Home > Mariners Forever > Eight Bells

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.

  • Capt. Richard P. Dallaire ’51

    Deceased date: March 13, 2018
    Captain Richard Paul Dallaire, USN (Ret), 87, of Virginia Beach, VA, passed away March 13, 2018. Born April 12, 1930, in Rochester, New Hampshire, he was the son of Wilfred and Gladys (Marchand) Dallaire. He graduated from Spaulding High School, Class …read more

  • Robert E. Moody ’68

    Deceased date: March 4, 2018
    Robert Earl Moody, 71, of Gadsden, Alabama passed away Sunday, March 4, 2018. Bob was born in Camden, Maine on September 18, 1946. He graduated from Camden High School where he played trumpet in the band and won the Junior class speech medal. He attend…read more

  • Thomas B. Porter ’69

    Deceased date: March 4, 2018
    Thomas B. Porter, 74, of 97 Bog Road, passed away, Sunday, March 4, 2018 in York Hospital. He was born January 12, 1944 in Morristown, N.J., a son of the late Charles C. and Dorothy (Burton) Porter. He attended New York Military Academy (with President…read more

  • Terrance J. Frederick ’65

    Deceased date: March 1, 2018
    Terrance ‘Terry’ J. Frederick, 75 of Beverly Hills, Florida died on Thursday, March 1, 2018. He was born on Tuesday, August 11, 1942, in Pittsfield, Maine, the son of Anthony and Evelyn Frederick. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Frederick; three so…read more

  • Peter R. Thompson ’65

    Deceased date: January 28, 2018
    Peter Royal Thomp…read more

  • Capt. Richard C. O’Donnell ’50

    Deceased date: January 25, 2018
    Capt. Richard C. O'Donnell '50 of Savannah, Georgia and formerly of Searsport, Maine, died Thursday, January 25, 2018 at Hospice Savannah. Capt. O'Donnell was predeceased by his wife, Mary, and is survived by his children, Thomas and Sheila. He spent m…read more

  • Capt. Dennis R. Webb ’72

    Deceased date: January 21, 2018
    Capt. Dennis R. Webb, 67, of Fellows Street, South Portland, Maine, died peacefully on Sunday, January 21, 2018, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House following a long illness. His loving wife was by his side. Dennis was born in Portland, Maine on May …read more

  • Norman A. Clark ’46

    Deceased date: January 16, 2018
    Norman A. Clark, 91, of Manchester, NH, died January 16, 2018, after a period of declining health. Born in Brattleboro, Vermont, on February 11, 1926, he was the son of Harold S. and Mary J. (Farrell) Clark. He resided in the Queen City most of his lif…read more

  • Craig W. Babcock ’89

    Deceased date: January 14, 2018
    Craig William Babcock, 53, of Lisbon, CT, and New Shoreham, RI, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 14, 2018. Craig was born on December 7, 1964 in Norwich, CT and proudly served as a Merchant Marine for 26 years. He is survived by his devoted wi…read more

  • Emery C. Daly ’53

    Deceased date: January 11, 2018
    Surrounded by members of his family, Emery Cambridge Daly, 84, passed away peacefully on January 11, 2018, at Manchester Memorial Hospital in Manchester, CT. Emery was born on January 30, 1933, in Lynnfield Center, MA, the son of Raymond Christy and Dorot…read more