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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.

  • Benjamin Snow ’81

    Deceased date: February 3, 2012

    PORTLAND -- It is with great sorrow that the children of Benjamin Snow announce his death on Friday, Feb. 3, 2012.

    Born in Boston, Mass., on Dec. 18, 1955, to June and Nicholas Snow, Ben and his b…read more

  • Thomas Herbert ’50

    Deceased date: January 26, 2012

    PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., and BANGOR - Tom Herbert, 82, a Bangor native, died Jan. 26, 2012, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. He was the son of the late Thomas R. and Louise E. (Aucoin) Herbert. Tom attended Bangor schools, graduating …read more

  • Peter Arthur Perrault ’66

    Deceased date: January 25, 2012

    LEAGUE CITY —Peter Arthur Perrault, of League City, passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 in Houston, Texas at the age of 67. He was born on April 22, 1944 in Brockton, Massachusetts to Arthur and Pauline Perrault.

    <…read more

  • Philip L. Pearson ’54

    Deceased date: December 3, 2011
    Philip L. Pearson found eternal peace on Dec. 3, 2011, age 78. Born in Bangor, Maine, Phil attended the Maine Maritime Academy before serving in the U.S. Navy. He was employed for 29 years at the W.H. Brady Company and is survived by his wife of 54 years,…read more

  • Douglas L. Peters ’97

    Deceased date: January 30, 2011
    Douglas L. Peters Jr., 35, of Two Rivers, Wis., died Jan. 30, 2011, at his residence, surrounded by his loving family. Doug was born July 3, 1975, in Rockland, Maine, son of Shelley (Chase) Bay and the late Douglas L. Peters Sr. In 1997 he graduated fr…read more

  • Richard H. Bowen ’71

    Deceased date: May 16, 2010
    EAST WAKEFIELD, N.H. -- Richard H. Bowen, 62, died Sunday, May 16, 2010, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, after a valiant two-and-a-half year battle with pulmonary fibrosis and a recent diagnosis of cancer. Born in Waterville, Maine, on Aug.…read more

  • Edgar S. Catlin ’47

    Deceased date: May 14, 2010
    Edgar S. Catlin Jr., 82, of Mere Point Road, died May 14, 2010 at his home. "Tim" was born in Portland on June 28, 1927, the son of Edgar S. and Helen Merryman Catlin Sr. He graduated from Governor Dummer Academy in 1945, Maine Maritime Academy in 1…read more

  • Robert M. Spear ’72

    Deceased date: April 26, 2010
    Robert M. Spear '72 died in Phippsburg, Maine on April 26, 2010. The son of a captain, Rob became a captain himself after graduation. First, he worked at Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, Maine; then sailed on numerous Exxon Shipping Co. vessels as a deck…read more

  • Irving F. Banks ’67

    Deceased date: April 17, 2010
    Irving F. Banks Jr., "Buddy," 65, of Jefferson, passed away peacefully at Miles Memorial Hospital on April 17 after a brief illness. Born in Jefferson on March 17, 1945, he was the son of Irving Sr. and Cynthia (Jackson) Banks. Bud grew up in Jefferson…read more

  • John Mckinnon ’78

    Deceased date: August 8, 2009
    BANGOR – John Lewis McKinnon Jr., 53, sadly passed away Aug. 8, 2009, at a local hospital. He was born Oct. 22, 1955, in Bangor, son of John Lewis and Mary Louise (White) McKinnon. John was a graduate of Bangor High School,…read more