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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.

  • Dennis M. Legere ’83

    Deceased date: October 28, 2015

    SANFORD - Dennis M. Legere, 54, a longtime resident of Sanford, passed away in Biddeford on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015.

    He was born in Sanford on March 19, 1961, a son of Paul and Pauline (Roux) Legere.

    Dennis graduated from Sanford H…read more

  • Douglas E. Bryant ’66

    Deceased date: October 27, 2015
    Eliot- Douglas Elliott Bryant, 72 passed away October 27, 2015 at the Monarch Center in Saco, Maine after struggling many years with Parkinson's Disease and its complications. Doug was born August 6, 1943 in Portsmouth New Hampshire to the late Herbert…read more

  • F. Neal Dow ’49

    Deceased date: October 24, 2015
    Groton - F. Neal Dow, 86, of Groton, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, at Fairview in Groton. He was born …read more

  • Ralph Hayden III ’61

    Deceased date: October 13, 2015
    Ralph Hayden III, 76, of Joppa, MD passed away on October 13, 2015 at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. Born in Boston, MA, he was the son of the late Ralph Hayden Jr. and Margaret (Brooks) Hayden, and husband of the late Margaret Anne Hayden. Mr. Hayden …read more

  • Joseph W. Carr ’52

    Deceased date: October 13, 2015

    CUSHING - Joseph W. Carr, 84, died Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at Windward Gardens in Camden. Joe's life began at the Stinson Hospital in Bangor on January 27, 1931.

    During his sophomore …read more

  • William B. Melaugh Jr. ’43-2

    Deceased date: October 10, 2015

    SOUTH PORTLAND - William "Bill" B. Melaugh Jr., of Sawyer Street, died peacefully, Saturday, Oct. 10. 2015, at home with people who loved him. He was born in Portland on Jan. 24, 1922, son of William B. Sr. and Annie (Mullins) Melaugh.  B…read more

  • Danielle L. Randolph ’04

    Deceased date: October 1, 2015

    ROCKLAND — A raging blonde, seaworthy mariner and loved by anyone who had the privilege of spending more than five minutes with her, Danielle Laura Randolph, 34, was lost at sea Oct. 1, 2015, with her fellow shipmates of the …read more

  • Michael L. Holland ’12

    Deceased date: October 1, 2015

    Michael Lee Holland, 25, a resident of Wilton, was lost at sea on October 1, 2015. He was one of 33 crew members aboard the S.S. El Faro that sank during Hurricane Joaquin near Crooked Island, Bahamas. He was born December 6, 1989 in Farmi…read more

  • Dylan Oke Meklin ’15

    Deceased date: October 1, 2015

    ROCKLAND - Dylan Oke Meklin, 23, of Rockland was lost at sea on Oct. 1, 2015 aboard the SS El Faro, off Crooked Islands, Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin. Dylan was born in Rockport, Feb. 8, 1992, the son of Karl and Elaine Jordan Meklin.<…read more

  • Michael C. Davidson ’88

    Deceased date: October 1, 2015
    Michael C. Davidson '88 was lost at sea October 1, 2015 sailing as Master aboard the SS El Faro off the Crooked Islands, Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin. Michael began preparing for his career as captain at Casco Bay Lines before attending MMA where he …read more