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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.

  • William J. Manduca ’59

    Deceased date: June 13, 2014
    William J. Manduca, 76, of Perry Drive, passed away on Friday, June 13, 2014, after a long and courageous battle with cancer at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta. He was born on March 14, 1938, in Biddeford, the son of S. Theodore and Mary (Hocto…read more

  • Edmond J. Beaulieu ’45

    Deceased date: May 23, 2014
    PORTLAND -- Edmond J. Beaulieu passed peacefully on May 23, 2014, with his family at his side in Portland. He was born in Portland, the son of Edmond Sr. and Amelia (Boutin) on Nov. 1, 1925. He graduated from Deering High School and Maine Maritime Acad…read more

  • Philip E. Thibodeau ’65

    Deceased date: May 23, 2014
    Phippsburg - Philip E. Thibodeau Jr., age 70, formerly of Rumford, passed away on May 23, 2014 at Androscoggin Hospice in Auburn, with his children…read more

  • Timothy Holmes ’65

    Deceased date: May 8, 2014

    Tenants Harbor — Timothy A. Holmes, 70, died unexpectedly, Thursday, May 8, 2014, at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta.

    Born in Berlin, N.H., May 23, 1943, he was the son of Arnold F. and …read more

  • Gilbert Hall ’50

    Deceased date: May 5, 2014

    CAMDEN — Capt. Gilbert E. Hall, 85, passed away Tuesday May 5, 2014, at Anderson Inn surrounded by his family.

    Born in East Searsmont, Gil was the son of Fredrick and Christina (Marriner) Hall.…read more

  • Tim Woodward ’85

    Deceased date: May 3, 2014
    SACO -- Timothy F. Woodward, 51, of Saco, passed away in Lucerne, Calif., on May 3, 2014. He was born in Peterborough, N.H., on Feb. 13, 1963, the son of Lawrence and Beverly Woodward. Tim graduated from Thornton Academy, cla…read more

  • Gerald A. Cummings ’50

    Deceased date: April 30, 2014

    Captain Gerald Arthur Cummings 84 years old of Mariaville,Maine passed away peacefully after long illness on April 30, 2014 at Courtland Rehab and Living Center of Ellsworth,Maine.

    Gerald was born…read more

  • William E. Abbott ’45

    Deceased date: April 21, 2014

    BELFAST - William E. Abbott, 91, of Belfast, died at his residence Monday April 21, 2014.

    He was born on Oct. 25, 1922, on Verona Island, to Carrie Justina (Burgess) and Merle Clifton Abbott. Bill…read more

  • Lawrence M. Theriault ’53

    Deceased date: April 6, 2014

    Lawrence M. Theriault, 81, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on April 6, 2014. He was born in Millinocket, Maine, son of the late Lionel and Helen Theriault. He was a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy …read more

  • David H. Williams ’61

    Deceased date: March 24, 2014
    David Henry Williams, 74, of Inverness, Florida passed away March 24, 2014 under the care of Hospice of Citrus County. He was born on March 8, 1940 in Norfolk, VA to the late Roger Hargreaves and Lois Evelyn (Hawes) Williams.…read more