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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.

  • James W. Fairbanks ’56

    Deceased date: August 28, 2016

    James Wilson Fairbanks, 82 of Saco, Maine, formerly of Old Orchard Beach, Maine died Sunday, August 28, 2016, in Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine.

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  • Francis H. Bromley, Jr. ’62

    Deceased date: August 21, 2016
    SCARBOROUGH - Joe Bromley passed away on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, after a brief illness, at The Gosnell Hospice House, surrounded by his family. Joe was born in Portland on Jan. 2, 1939, to Francis H. Bromley Sr. and Harriette (Willard) Bromley. During …read more

  • David B. Eldridge, Jr. ’53

    Deceased date: August 10, 2016
    David B. Eldridge, Jr., CAPT USN Retired died on August 10, 2016 in Bethesda, Maryland.  He graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1953 and served as a Naval Aviator for 26 years.  He served as Commanding Officer of the Navy Antarctic Squadron (VXE-6)…read more

  • David R. Moore ’67

    Deceased date: August 2, 2016
    David Roger Moore, 71, of Lake Winola, passed away Aug. 2, 2016, surrounded by his family at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart in Dunmore. Dave was born in Jenkintown. He was the son of the late William Jr. and Margaret Felton Moore. He grew up near Phi…read more

  • Peter P. Bowler ’55

    Deceased date: July 30, 2016
    Peter Palmer Bowler, born Feb. 16, 1935, in San Diego, CA, to parents George A. and Dorothy Palmer Bowler, an only child. Peter took his last flight on July 30, 2016, at the age of 81. Peter attended many schools across the country and up and down the …read more

  • Michael P. Fabio ’04

    Deceased date: July 17, 2016
    FALMOUTH - Michael P. (Mike) Fabio, 36, died unexpectedly at his cabin in Milo on July 17, 2016. He was born in Portland on Dec. 9, 1979, the son of Ronald and Linda Fabio. Michael attended schools in Falmouth through 1996. During that time, in 1994, h…read more

  • Walter D. Calder ’66

    Deceased date: July 5, 2016
    Walter Dale Calder passed away on Monday, June 27, 2016, succumbing to cancer at age 72. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family. The loving husband of Doris Ann (Stewart) Calder for 50 years, he was a devoted father to their three sons –…read more

  • Edward P. Sullivan ’61

    Deceased date: July 1, 2016
    Edward P. "Ted" Sullivan, age 76, of Essex passed away on Friday evening, July 1, 2016 at the Shoreline Medical Center in Westbrook. Ted was the beloved husband of Kathleen "Kathy" (Rogerson) Sullivan. Ted was born on April 13, 1940 in Norwood, Mass…read more

  • John E. Haramis ’61

    Deceased date: July 1, 2016
    WARRENTON, Va. - John Emanuel Haramis of Warrenton, Va. died on July 1, 2016 at Fauquier Hospital. He was born on Sept. 5, 1940, in Biddeford to the late Emanuel J. and Sophia M. Haramis. John worked for 34 years at Mobil Oil retiring as International …read more

  • Bruce R. Ingalls ’55

    Deceased date: June 27, 2016
    MACHIAS - Bruce Richardson Ingalls, age 82, passed away on Monday, June 27, 2016 due to a short illness while at Marshall Healthcare in Machias, Maine. He battled Parkinson's disease for over 5 years, yet he continued to happily live with his wife, Jean, …read more