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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.

  • Michael R. Giroux ’71

    Deceased date: June 12, 2018
    Michael Richard Giroux, on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, surrounded by his loving family and friends, gained his wings and entered the Heavenly Kingdom of Our Lord and Savior. A good death is made possible from a life well lived. Mike is survived by his belo…read more

  • Thomas D. Nash ’72

    Deceased date: June 12, 2018
    Thomas Dana Nash, Sr, 68, died June 12, 2018 at home with his family by his side. Born in the seaside town of Millbridge, Maine in 1949, Tommy's life was always near the water. He graduated from Jonesport High School in 1968 and then entered Maine Mari…read more

  • Sean C. Ritchie ’03

    Deceased date: May 31, 2018
    Sean Ritchie, 43, died May 31, 2018. He was born on June 3, 1974. From a young age, Sean had a love of adventure and the ocean. He formerly lived in Meredith and graduated from Inter-Lakes H.S. and enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he traveled the world on…read more

  • Mark P. Alford ’67

    Deceased date: May 26, 2018
    Mark Powers Alford died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on May 26, 2018 following a battle with cancer. Mark was born on July 10, 1945 in Southampton, NY, the son of Frank and Mary Alford. He graduated from Southampton High School, class of…read more

  • Barry W. Hamilton ’57

    Deceased date: May 21, 2018
    Barry Warren Hamilton, 83, passed away peacefully at home after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving wife on May 21, 2018. The son of Warren and Martha Hamilton, Barry was born Feb. 23, 1935, in Portland, and was raised in Falmouth. Barry graduate…read more

  • Capt. Milton E. Hall, Jr. ’58

    Deceased date: May 9, 2018
    Milton E. Hall Jr., 81 of Bowen Road in Kittery died on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover with his family by his side. Born in Portsmouth Hospital on March 23, 1937 he was a son of the late Milton Sr. and Flora (Weeks) Hall an…read more

  • Marshall E. Thompson ’71

    Deceased date: May 6, 2018
    Marshall E. Thompson, 68, passed away Sunday May 6, 2018. He was born in Ellsworth September 10, 1949, son of Robert F. and Maxine (Lord) Thompson. Marshall graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1971. He  worked many years at Eastern Fine Paper, Ba…read more

  • Capt. Richard G. Spear ’43-2

    Deceased date: May 3, 2018
    Captain Richard "Dick" Spear, 96, died with his daughter at his side, Thursday, May 3, 2018, at the Sussman House in Rockport. Captain Spear led a full and interesting life that included over 60 years in the Maritime field. At age 17, he was given a ye…read more

  • Thomas W. Trundy ’96

    Deceased date: April 6, 2018
    Thomas W. Trundy, 53, died unexpectedly at his home in Houston, Texas, Friday, April 6. He was born in Bangor on March 7, 1965, to David and Betsy Nichols Trundy. He graduated from Mt. Blue High School in 1983 and went on to Maine Maritime Academy, where …read more

  • Lance J. Anderson ’71

    Deceased date: March 20, 2018
    Lance John Anderson, 71, of Winslow, Maine, passed away on March 20, 2018, in Powell, Tenn., with his wife and children by his side. Lance was on vacation with his wife, when he succumbed to pneumonia due to respiratory ailments that had been challenging …read more