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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.

  • David S. Dyer ’55

    Deceased date: June 24, 2016
    David S. Dyer of Satellite Beach, Florida passed away June 24, 2016 at home surrounded by his family.  Married for 60 years to his wife Susan M. Dyer, David also leaves behind his daughters Kellie Collins of North Troy, VT, Robin Labonte of Standish, Mai…read more

  • John M. Moscone, Sr. ’72

    Deceased date: June 13, 2016
    Millinocket and Rochester, New Hampshire - John Michael Moscone Sr., passed away unexpectedly on June 13, 2016. He was born January 19th, 1950 and raised in Millinocket, ME, the son of Alfonso and Eileen Moscone. John was a 1971 graduate of Maine Marit…read more

  • Charles L. Brown ’67

    Deceased date: June 12, 2016
    ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. - Charles Lawrence Brown Jr., 71, of St. Simons Island, Ga., passed away on Sunday, June 12, 2016, at his residence with his wife and daughters by his side. Charlie was born in 1944 in Brunswick. He spent much of his childhood wi…read more

  • Parker S. Laite Sr. ’54

    Deceased date: June 6, 2016
    CAMDEN — Parker S. Laite, Sr., 82, longtime community servant, died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family, Monday, June 6, 2016, after a brief illness. Friends and relatives are invited to visit Sunday, Ju…read more

  • Paul C. Sackley ’45

    Deceased date: May 31, 2016

    Paul Charles Sackley died May 31, 2016 at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. He was born August 27, 1925 in Portland Maine to Charles Paul Sackley and Vivian Sackley. Paul graduated from Portland High School, Portland, Maine in 1943 and graduat…read more

  • Paul R. Spear ’73

    Deceased date: May 29, 2016
    Valrico, Fla.—Captain Paul R. Spear, 65, of Valrico, Fla., died Sunday, May 29, 2016. He had suffered from frontotemporal disorder for several years. He was born March 8, 1951, 3 minutes earlier than his identical twin brother Peter, in Portland, Maine,…read more

  • Dr. Douglas W. McKay ’47

    Deceased date: May 26, 2016
    MILBRIDGE - Dr. Douglas William McKay of Milbridge, Maine, the youngest son born to Hugh Gordon McKay and Elizabeth Jellison McKay on March 10, 1927 in Howland, Maine, passed away peacefully at his home on May 26, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Elin…read more

  • Paul R. Birmingham ’58

    Deceased date: May 25, 2016
    SEELEY’S BAY, ONTARIO, CANADA – Suddenly but peacefully at home, Seeley’s Bay, Ontario on Wednesday, May 25th, 2016. Paul Richard Birmingham, formerly of Pakenham, passed away at the age of 78. Beloved husband of the late Mary Ann (nee Nelson) (Sept…read more

  • J. Scott Powell ’82

    Deceased date: May 19, 2016
    J. Scott Powell of Buxton, Maine passed away suddenly Thursday, May 19, 2016, while working on the ship S.S. Alpena in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. He was 57. Born in Wilmington, Del., Scott's early years were spent with his mother, Patricia Powell, in Moorestow…read more

  • Capt. Kent S. Webber ’60

    Deceased date: May 4, 2016
    Capt. Kent Shepard Webber, USN (Ret.), age 76 of Catharpin, VA and formerly of Vienna, VA died on May 4, 2016, at Fairfax Hospital. Beloved husband of the late Margaret Austin Webber; father of Kristin Webber-Moore (Bill Moore, II), Stephen Webber and Ken…read more