The tradition of Eight Bells pays respect to deceased mariners and signifies that a sailor's “watch” is over.

The practice dates back to the days of the sailing ships, when sailors couldn't afford to have their own time pieces and relied on the ship's bells to tell time. The ship's boy kept time by using a half-hour glass. Each time the sand ran out, he would turn the glass over and ring the appropriate number of bells. Each ship “watch” is four hours, or eight bells, in length.

Submissions for Eight Bells

If you learn of the passing of a MMA classmate, associate, friend or family member, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations so that we may include the information in our Eight Bells listings. Send obituaries or their digital links to alumni@mma.edu.

• Richard “Dick” Louis Caron ’56

  Deceased date: September 7, 2012
  BANGOR - Richard "Dick" Louis Caron, 78, of Old Town, died Friday, Sept. 7, 2012, after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. The youngest son of Jean and Mary (Belva) Beaulieu Caron, he was born March 21, 1934, …read more

• Henry David Brophy ’55

  Deceased date: August 30, 2012
  WINSLOW, MAINE—David Brophy died on Thursday, August 30, 2012, at home, as a result of injuries incurred in an automobile accident the prior year. The son of the late Rebecca and Henry Brophy, David graduated from Lawrence High School in Fairfield, Mai…read more

• Gerald “Guy” H. Saucier ’53

  Deceased date: August 17, 2012

  VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- LCDR (RET) USN, Gerald H. Saucier, 81, died at his home surrounded by family on Friday, Aug. 17, 2012. He was born in New Canada Plantation to Honorie and Delia Saucier. Known as 'Guy' by his Maine family a…read more

• Robert O’Connell ’54

  Deceased date: August 7, 2012

  SCARBOROUGH -- Robert L. O'Connell, 78, of Scarborough, died on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at Maine Veterans Home.

  He was born in Manchester, N.H., the son of Victor and Emily King O'Connell. He attended…read more

• Peter A. Pasquine, Jr. ’69

  Deceased date: August 4, 2012
  Peter A. Pasquine Jr., 67, died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, surrounded by his family at his home. He was born June 13, 1945, in Millinocket, the son of Peter A. and Geraldine E. (Healey) Pasquine. Peter grew up in Millinocket and was a graduate of Stearns Hi…read more

• Robert E. Walsh ’60

  Deceased date: July 26, 2012
  HARPSWELL - Ret. Lt. of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department Robert E. Walsh, 72, of Mountain Road, died Thursday, July 26, 2012 at his home. He was born …read more

• Cheever J. Lyden ’44

  Deceased date: July 16, 2012

  PORTLAND -- Dr. Cheever J. Lyden, 90, of Berkeley Street, died on Monday, July 16, 2012, surrounded by his wife and loving family at the Monarch Center in Saco, after a short illness.

  Cheever was bor…read more

• Arthur Goss ’77

  Deceased date: July 4, 2012
  Arthur J Goss passed away at his camp in Maine unexpectedly June 4, 2012 at the age of 56. Long time resident of South Berwick Maine, he had recently moved to Naples Florida. Arthur graduated Maine Maritime Academy class of 1977. He last sailed aboard …read more

• James Merrill Parker Canfield ’82

  Deceased date: June 20, 2012

  Beloved father, husband, and son, 52

  James Canfield of Scotch Plains, NJ, passed away at his home with his family by his side on Wednesday June 20, 2012.

  Relatives and f…read more

• Gary W. Warren ’80

  Deceased date: May 29, 2012
  WARREN, Gary W. Sr. - of Doylestown, PA, age 54, passed away May 29, 2012 at Hurley Medical Center, Flint, MI. Gary was born in Bridgton, Maine on May 8, 1958, son of the late Merton and Carolyn (Stone) Warren. He married Lisa J. Allen on June 4, 1983 in…read more