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.

• Roger L. Poulin ’57

  Deceased date: June 23, 2023
  Roger Lionel Poulin, 91, of Pawleys Island, SC, passed away on Friday, June 23, 2023 at NHC of Garden City. He was born January 26, 1932 in Winslow, ME, son of the late Joseph Napoleon Poulin and Marie Zelie Boucher Poulin. In addition to his parents h…read more

• John R. Hilton ’62

  Deceased date: June 21, 2023
  John R. Hilton, 82, of Newcastle, passed away on June 17, 2023, at home surrounded by his loving family. Born in Damariscotta on Dec. 17, 1940, to John H. Hilton and Irma Chase, John grew up in Newcastle. He attended Franklin Grammar School and graduat…read more

• Willard L. Robinson ’49

  Deceased date: June 14, 2023
  Willard (Bill) Lee Robinson, 94, of Manchester, formerly of Vernon, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. Bill was born on September 24, 1928, in Manchester, CT, the son of the late Chester and Ruth (Jameson) Robinson. Bill graduated from Ma…read more

• Bruce D. Michelsen ’54

  Deceased date: June 2, 2023
  Bruce Michelsen died peacefully at home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on June 2, 2023. He came so close to reaching his goal of living to the age of 90. Bruce was born July 12, 1933 in Stamford, Connecticut to Grace Kenn and Adolph Michelsen. In 1951 …read more

• John S. Rosa ’85

  Deceased date: May 10, 2023
  John Scott Rosa of Franklin and Bristol, NH, passed away peacefully at his home on May 10, 2023, after a lengthy illness.  He was born in Portsmouth, NH on February 15, 1963, the son of the late John E. Rosa and Grace McMahon. A 1981 graduate of Ports…read more

• Larry C. Wonson ’74

  Deceased date: May 4, 2023
  Larry C. Wonson, 71, passed away on May 4, 2023, at the Kaplan House in Danvers after a lengthy illness. He grew up in Rockport, graduating from Maine Maritime Academy with a BS degree and a Third Mates License. He worked for Exxon Shipping Company for 16…read more

• Eli J. Olson ’19

  Deceased date: April 29, 2023
  Eli James Olson, 25, died on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 in a tragic hiking accident on El Capitan mountain in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas. Eli was born August 1, 1997 in Dover-Foxcroft, the third of five children born to Scott and Doreen Olso…read more

• Harold Hugo ’50

  Deceased date: April 1, 2023
  Harold Hugo, of South Portland Maine, went to be with the Lord on April 1, 2023 at the age of 94. He was born in Portland, Maine on September 5, 1928, son of Esther and Morris Hugo. He was the youngest and last surviving of 6 children. He was a 1945 gradu…read more

• Julian E. Alley ’71

  Deceased date: March 14, 2023
  Julian E. Alley "Dusty," 74, passed away on March 14, 2023, at his home in Addison. Dusty is survived by his companion, Mary Beach of Addison; siblings, Carla Lougee (Roger) of Vallejo, CA, Cynthia (Dale) Kenney of Winterport, Dean (Teresa) Alley of Jone…read more

• Capt. John Maclean ’58

  Deceased date: March 12, 2023
  Captain John Maclean, 88, of William Street, passed away March 12, 2023 at Samaritan Summit Village in Watertown, where he had been a resident since November of 2020. He was born December 30, 1934 in Buffalo, NY, son of Archibald and Effie Gillies Macl…read more