As Sarah McLachlan’s anthem of mourning, “I Will Remember You,” poured out across the Red Cedar River, more than 75 of Clare McCormick’s friends and family gathered Saturday night to share and celebrate memories of a life ended so suddenly.
The vigil was held for 19-year-old McCormick, an elementary education and child development sophomore from Alpena who died Oct. 20 after a car struck her and 19-year-old Ashlee Nichols the morning before. The two were walking on Chandler Road in Bath Township, and were hit at about 5:05 a.m. on Oct. 19. Nichols’ parents don’t want her condition released.
Members of McCormick’s family came from all over Michigan to take part in the vigil.
“We were given an angel for 19 years, and now she will be a guide to all those who touched her life,” said McCormick’s mother, Karen, her voice wavering as she tried to hold the microphone still in her shaking hands.
McCormick’s parents, Pete and Karen, and three sisters, Katie, 21, and 11-year-old twins Maggie and Deirdre live in Alpena, but came to hear McCormick’s friends commemorate her life.
“I was very surprised,” Karen McCormick said about the turnout. “You’d think on a Saturday night, they’d have other things to do.”
But pre-vet sophomore and friend Stephanie Gordon said Clare wouldn’t want them to be mourning so much.
“I know Clare-Bear’s looking down on us right now,” Gordon said. “And she’s probably mad at us for spending so much time crying about her and not partying, because that’s what she liked to do.”
McCormick’s mentor, Maura Less, from the third floor of West Shaw Hall, helped coordinate the vigil with complex director Tracy Bobertz by hanging posters throughout the building.
The ceremony opened with remarks from Less and McCormick’s roommate, Chelsea McCavit, who spoke about how McCormick was always smiling.
“It’s hard to get up in front of people,” McCavit said after the vigil. “I didn’t really know what to expect, but I think she’ll appreciate the effort.”
The microphone was open to the audience as people were invited to share memories of Clare.
McCormick’s aunt, Taylor resident Janice Lang, said she had so many happy and funny times with her.
“I could have many memories to share with you, but she’d get angry at me,” Lang said, laughing. “But I know Clare’s in heaven.”
When the memories had been shared, the group organized into a large circle, and candles were passed around. As the candles began to light up one by one in silence, the only sounds were sniffles around the circle and the wind over the river until the music began playing.
“There were a lot of people here,” Gordon said. “But not nearly all the people she touched.”
