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

• Lance J. Anderson ’71

  died March 20, 2018, in Powell, Tennessee, with his wife and children by his side. Anderson was on vacation with his wife when he succumbed to pneumonia due to respiratory ailments that had been challenging him for years. He graduated from Waterville High School in 1967, and after graduating from Maine Maritime, he worked in the Merchant Marine for more than 30 years, ultimately becoming Chief Engineer. For several years he worked in paper mills in Berlin, New Hampshire, and Lincoln and Rumford, Maine. Anderson had a great love for animals, duck and bird hunting, radio-controlled planes, photography and music. He also enjoyed driving up north to camp and boating on China Lake. On weekend mornings, for many years, he could be found drinking coffee down at Freddie’s Garage in East Vassalboro. He had a lifelong admiration for aviation that he inherited from his father, who flew him as a young boy. Upon retirement, he achieved his dream of building an airplane and obtaining his pilot’s license, an accomplishment that brought him great pride when he was able to fly his wife and children over the great state of Maine. Anderson was a member of Vassalboro Lodge No. 0054 AF & AM.

• Thomas W. Trundy ’96

  died unexpectedly at his home in Houston, Texas, on April 6, 2018. He graduated from Mt. Blue High School in 1983 and went on to Maine Maritime Academy, where he earned his degree in marine engineering. Trundy loved to go to deer camp in the fall with his friends. He loved to cook and take food to the union hall when he was in port and feed the youngsters who needed a home-cooked meal. He also loved to go to his favorite camp in Round Pond, where he could sit and contemplate life and watch the grass grow. Trundy loved life and people and was always happy to sit and chat. He had one of those personalities that filled a room.

• Capt. Richard G. Spear ’43-2

  died with his daughter at his side on May 3, 2018, at the Sussman House in Rockport, Maine. Capt. Spear led a full and interesting life that included more than 60 years in the maritime field. At age 17, he was given a year’s leave of absence from high school to join an expedition sponsored by Harvard University to retrace the voyage of Christopher Columbus. This expedition was led by Prof. Samuel Eliot Morison, a renowned naval historian of World War II. Sailing on the barkentine Capitana, logbooks used by Columbus and his crew were used to trace Columbus’ voyages through Europe, Africa, South America and the Caribbean. Morison received the Pulitzer Prize for his book recounting this adventure. A picture of Spear onboard the vessel was featured on the front cover of Life magazine in 1940. At the end of the expedition, he returned to Rockland and graduated from high school in 1941. In 1942, he enrolled in the second class of the newly established Maine Maritime Academy, where he graduated in 1943 with honors and a third mate’s license. He was a commissioned ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve, where he reported to the Liberty ship Henry Jocelyn. In the Merchant Marine during World War II, Spear served in the Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean war zones. In later years, he received a bachelor of marine science degree and held an unlimited master’s license. In 1959, Spear became the first employee and assistant manager of the Maine State Ferry Service. Later he became the appointment manager of the Ferry Service, holding that position for 30 years until his retirement in 1989. Holding a private pilot’s license, he enjoyed flying to many areas local and away. Upon retirement, he enjoyed traveling to many parts of the world, including the North Pole and Antarctica. He was a member of numerous organizations, including The Portland Marine Society, The Boston Marine Society, the Marine Society of the City of New York, the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the Council of American Master Mariners, the Institute of Navigation, the Square Riggers Club of California, Master Mason Aurora Lodge #50, Scottish Rite Bodies, York Rite Bodies, Kora Shrine, National Sojourners, past director of Put Stevens Court 107 of the Royal Order of Jesters, a Life Member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was the past president of the Maine State Pilotage Commission and was a former member of the Rockland Personnel Board. He remained a member of the Rockland Harbor Management Committee, the Maine State Ferry Service Advisory Board and the Rockland Port District since 1959, where he served as the City of Rockland’s longest-seated elected official. He was a wonderful husband, father and friend, who was well known for his easygoing manner, his dry sense of humor and his willingness to help others.

• Capt. Milton Eugene Hall, Jr. ’58

  died May 9, 2018, at Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover, Maine, with his family by his side. Born in the Portsmouth Hospital, he was raised in the home in Kittery where he lived until his passing. Hall attended local schools, graduating from RW Traip Academy before attending Maine Maritime Academy. He spent his career in the Merchant Marine visiting ports in South America, Africa, Europe and Asia, ending his career as a captain. After retiring, he spent almost 20 years serving on the Port Authority and volunteering at the Kittery Historical and Naval Museum. In his free time he enjoyed lobstering the traditional way, hauling each trap by hand. This gave him the additional opportunity to provide friends and neighbors with special meals. He is remembered for taking care of needs quietly and unseen, for family, a friend, the town, the Museum or a stranger.

• Barry W. Hamilton ’57

  died on May 21, 2018. The son of Warren and Martha Hamilton, he was born in Portland, Maine, and raised in Falmouth. He graduated from Falmouth High School in 1954. After graduation he attended Westbrook Junior College and Maine Maritime Academy. He married the love of his life and his soulmate, Virginia (Ginny) Andreasen on April 30, 2000, in Falmouth. Hamilton was a Merchant Marine veteran and spent many years as Chief Engineer on the Maine Maritime Academy training vessel State of Maine, and also aboard the ship Lindonwald. Hamilton was appointed to the rank of LCDR, U.S. Navy Reserve on January 9, 1976. Hamilton and Ginny, who were high school sweethearts, traveled extensively. They were happiest when they were sharing their time together. Their travels took them to Hawaii, Alaska, Colombia, Key West, Panama, the Caribbean Islands, Branson and Myrtle Beach, just to name a few. Hamilton volunteered his time on many occasions. His most memorable was traveling with Wreaths Across America, where he had the privilege of placing a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He also volunteered his time at the American Veterans Museum in South Portland. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Temple, a member of the Scottish Rite and the Anah Shriners. Hamilton was very instrumental in lending his hands to all who needed his help.

• Sean C. Ritchie ’03

  died May 31, 2018. From a young age, Ritchie had a love of adventure and the ocean. He formerly lived in Meredith and graduated from Inter-Lakes High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he traveled the world on the open sea. His love of family brought him back to New England, where he attended and graduated from both Maine Maritime Academy and Plymouth State College. His children, Abby and Jack Ritchie and Trevor Scarlett, were everything to him. He loved them with all he had, working tirelessly to ensure they could explore their own life’s dreams. For many years, Ritchie satisfied his desire of a life on the open sea by serving as captain of the Doris E or aboard the Mount Washington on the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee. Often the life of the party, his piercing blue eyes and deep laughter, like the ocean waters he so loved, hid the tumultuous currents struggling beneath their surface. In death, his soul has found the peace he could not find on earth.

• Thomas D. Nash ’72

  died June 12, 2018, at home with his family by his side. Born in the seaside town of Millbridge, Maine, in 1949, Nash’s life was always near the water. He graduated from Jonesport High School in 1968 and then entered Maine Maritime Academy to become a Merchant Mariner. One of his proudest accomplishments was graduating Maine Maritime near the top of his class. As a Merchant Mariner, Tommy alternated between months on the ships and months at home. Nothing made him happier than the times he spent with his family on the long shore leaves. While he was generally quiet, everyone loved to hear him when he did speak up. He had a great sense of humor and could draw laughter from everyone in the room.

• Joseph H. Tremble ’56

  died June 21, 2018, at home with his daughters by his side. He was born in Brewer, the third child of Joseph Harold Tremble and Margaret (Luosey) Tremble. He graduated from John Bapst High School in 1953 and later from Maine Maritime Academy.

• Capt. Walter E. Shea, Jr. ’77

  died unexpectedly at his summer home in Eliot, Maine, on July 3, 2018. Shea graduated from Marshwood High School in Eliot, Maine. He pursued his dream and graduated from Maine Maritime Academy, then lived his life at sea and retired after attaining the rank of captain in 2003. Shea was in the U.S. Navy Reserves, attaining the rank of LCDR. Shea loved horses and had five when he was growing up. He was a member of 4-H and rode competitively in many horse shows during his teenage years. He was passionate about helping animals. Shea also spent many hours putting together numerous models of ships. He loved doing sudoku and crossword puzzles. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved sharing outlandish jokes with his many friends.

• Dale C. Lincoln ’57

  died July 12, 2018. Lincoln was a commissioned officer with the U.S. Navy for more than 10 years, and an engineer aboard Gulf oil tankers for six years. Lincoln was a teacher at Southern Maine Technical College, where he served as Chief Engineer of the MV Aqualab. He also was a teacher at Woodland High School and Shead High School at Eastport. He was a Sunday school teacher and deacon at the Washington Street Baptist Church in Eastport for many years. Lincoln had a lifetime love for baseball. In the early 1950s, he started running long distances each day in order to get better conditioned to play baseball. He found that he loved to run and was proud to have run the Boston Marathon three times. He organized races in the state of Maine for many years. He was a baseball and cross country coach for both elementary and high school students for several years. In honor of Dale’s devotion to running and coaching, the Dale C. Lincoln Kids Run is held annually during Eastport’s July Fourth activities. In 2002, he was inducted as a member of The Maine Running Hall of Fame, and in 2017, he was inducted to the Maine Maritime Academy Athletics Hall of Fame for baseball and cross country. Two favorite money-making jobs of his lifetime were raking blueberries and digging clams. He authored five books and hundreds of true stories.

• Timothy Sean Sullivan ’06

  died in July in Topsham, Maine. He was born on July 22, 1964, in Bath, Maine, and was the youngest of nine children. He was raised in Arrowsic, attended Bath schools and graduated from Morse High School in 1982. After high school, he started his 30-year work career at BIW, taking a short break from BIW to work at Quincy Shipyard in Massachusetts. While at BIW, Tim graduated from the Apprenticeship Program with a degree in ship production from Maine Maritime Academy. He had a superb work ethic and was proud to be an employee of BIW.

  Sullivan was a true friend to his friends and was loved by many. This was evident by the amount of friends and family who visited and checked on his progress as he waged a fierce fight against glioblastoma for almost 20 months.

  His great joys in life were spending time with family and friends, riding his Harley, boating on the Kennebec, watching the ospreys on the river outside his home, volunteering at the Maine Maritime Museum, being a “Big Brother” to Zack and working at BIW with his lifelong friends.