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Eight Bells

The practice of using bells stems from the days of the sailing ships. 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.

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

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.

  • Lawrence W. Gribbin ’56

    Deceased date: December 13, 2019
    SOUTH PORTLAND—Lawrence Wesley Gribbin, 84, passed away December 13, 2019. He was born January 9, 1935, in Portland, to Howard and Ruth (Stormes) Gribbin. He grew up in South Portland and attended local schools. He graduated from South Portland High Sch…read more

  • Capt. G. David Fenderson ’56

    Deceased date: December 9, 2019
    G. David Fenderson, Captain USNR, 85, died peacefully on December 9, 2019 at Maine Medical Center after brief illness. G. David Fenderson was born in Belfast, Maine and was the eldest son of Harold I. and Georgie Whitehead Fenderson. Dave "Fendy" Fende…read more

  • Peter C. Bartlett ’83

    Deceased date: December 8, 2019

    Peter Bartlett passed away on December 8, 2019 at the age of 59. Born September 19, 1960, to Jim and Phyllis Bartlett, Pete grew up in Hampden, Maine, and graduated high school in 1979 from Hampden Ac…read more

  • David C. MacNichol ’53

    Deceased date: December 6, 2019
    David Carey MacNichol, 87, passed away peacefully on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019 at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor as the result of a stroke. Dave was born in Eastport on April 18, 1932, the firstborn son of Col. Alexander A. MacNichol and…read more

  • Malcolm C. Cianchette ’73

    Deceased date: November 21, 2019
    Malcom Carl “Mac” Cianchette, 68, lost his battle with cancer Nov 21, 2019, at his home on Great Moose Lake, with his family by side. He was born May 25, 1951, in Waterville, the son of Carl and Maureen (Davis) Cianchette. Mac graduated from the fo…read more

  • Richard H. Moody ’44

    Deceased date: November 11, 2019
    Andover MA - Dick Moody, aged 94, died at home on Monday, November 11, 2019. Richard was the son of Percy W. and Helen B. Moody and was a ninety-year resident of Andover, He attended Phillips Academy, earned a Marin…read more

  • Kenneth L. Hatch ’71

    Deceased date: November 7, 2019
    FORT MYERS, Fla. – Kenneth L. Hatch, 72, passed away after a short illness Nov. 7, 2019, in Fort Myers, Fla. “Kenny” was the youngest of five children, born Jan. 4, 1947, in Portland, to Philip B. Hatch Sr. and Phyllis Crangle Hatch. He attended …read more

  • Capt. Osborne N. Ellis ’47

    Deceased date: October 28, 2019
    BRUNSWICK – Osborne N. Ellis, 92, passed away peacefully on Monday, Oct. 28, 2019, in Brunswick. He was born in Waterville on May 12, 1927, to Frank B. Ellis and Erla Edwards Ellis. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1944, Maine Maritime Acade…read more

  • Eugene V. Gendron ’50

    Deceased date: October 2, 2019
    Eugene V. Gendron, 91, of Biddeford, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening Oct. 2, 2019, at home. He was born in Pembroke, N.H. on April 22, 1928, a son of Henry and Marie Louise (Letendre) Gendron. Gene was a graduate of Biddeford High School, clas…read more

  • Robert B. Lessels ’50

    Deceased date: October 2, 2019
    Robert B. Lessels, 89, died October 2, 2019. He was born December 5, 1929 in Concord, NH. The son of Clarence and Marjorie (Hammond) Lessels. Robert graduated from Concord High School in 1947. Following high school, he attended Maine Maritime Academy i…read more