Eight Bells - In Memoriam

The striking of eight bells at noon harkens back to the days of sail, when time was kept by a trickle of sand through a half-hour glass. One bell was rung for each passing half hour to help keep track of watches while at sea. At the end of a four-hour watch, with the striking of eight bells, the watch would change. 

Eight bells – the end of watch – can also mark a seaman’s death, meaning a sailor has finished their final watch.

At the Steamship Authority, we are blessed to have many longtime employees on both the water and the land.  When one of them finishes their final watch, we will remember them here. 

2025

• February 26: James B. Hocking, 42-year vessel employee, retired as a captain, 2015
• March 2: Michael E. Tillman, 28-year terminal employee, retired as a ticket seller, 2019
• June 3: Lawrence P. Camerlengo, 28-year terminal employee, retired 2023
• June 6: Maurice “Moe” M. Gosselin, 36-year vessel employee, retired as a bosun, 2017
• September 12: Henry P. Hirschel, 25-year vessel employee, retired as a captain, 2009
• October 2: Robert S. Marshall, 11-year Board member representing Falmouth, retired 2013. 
• November 5: James M. Sepanara, 48-year vessel employee, retired as a pilot, 2025.
• November 26: Anthony "Andy" Clark, terminal employee, associate agent. 

2024

• January 25: Joseph F. Frisino III, 42-year vessel employee
• May 3: Frank J. Rezendes, 11-year Port Council member representing Fairhaven, retired 2019
• August 3: Keith Curry, 15-year vessel employee, retired 2006
• August 15: Deborah Larrabee, two-year employee, ticket seller
• October 30: Ricky J. Pottle, 36-year terminal employee, retired as a clerk, 2021
• December 18: John P. Kamataris, 37-year vessel employee, retired as a pilot, 2020
• December 19: Richard L. LeRoux, 43-year vessel and engineering employee, retired as an oiler, 2014

2023

• February 1, 2023: William J. Wylie, 28-year employee, oiler, retired 2010
• April 28, 2023: Frederick C. McArdle, 40-year employee, vessel employee, retired 2014
• May 21, 2023: David Baarsvik, 51-year employee, captain, retired 2019
• December 1, 2023: James H. Smith, 27-year Board member representing Falmouth, retired 1990

2022

• February 17: Joseph E. Knizewski, two-month employee, vessel maintenance manager
• February 25: Osvaldo R. Monteiro, 14-year employee, captain
• April 10: George J. Balco Jr., 12-year Port Council member representing Tisbury, retired 2020
• May 4: Lawrence S. Ferreira, 15-year employee, retired 2020
• August 21: William J. Walsh Jr., 39-year employee, retired 2012
• November 3: Robert V. Huss, 16-year Port Council member representing Oak Bluffs, retired 2020
• November 7: Robert H. Clark, 29-year employee, Vineyard Haven terminal manager, retired 1996

2021

• January 1: Barry L. Hall, 20-year employee, retired 2016, electrician
• April 15: John S. Lee Jr., 29-year employee, retired 2010, engineering and maintenance 
• June 25: Paul B. Spates, 22-year employee, retired 1999, able-bodied seaman
• December 28: James C. Howarth, 13-year employee, retired 2019, vessel employee

2020

• January 26: William Lyons, 29-year employee, retired 1995
• May 17: Theophilus M. “T.M.” Araujo, 25-year employee, retired 2005, purser
• June 4: Richard G. Wilkinson, six-year employee, Maximo planner
• July 24: Peter H. Riley, 22-year employee, ordinary seaman
• September 24: Robert L. O'Brien, 26-year Board Member representing Barnstable, retired 2016
• October 24: Brian P. O’Malley, 49-year employee, retired 2016
• November 4: Robert E. Hebden, 19-year employee, ordinary seaman

No more a Watch to stand, Old Sailor
You are outward bound on an ebbing tide.
Eight Bells has rung, and last Watch done.
Now a new berth waits you on the other side.

Your Ship is anchored in God's Harbor.
And your Shipmates, sailors of the Lord.
Are Mustered on the deck to greet you.
And pipe you as you come aboard.

Her boilers with full head of steam.
Cargo stowed and Galley stored.
Just waiting to get underway.
When the last Hand comes aboard.

Look sharp, that Hand is you, Old Sailor.
And you'll be sailing out on Heavenly Seas.
May the wind be ever at your back.
Fair weather, and God speed!

- Richard John Scarr

The photo "ships bell at sunset" by gcaptain.com is licensed with CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/