Waterbury woman plans memorial ride to honor brother, support autism charity

Oct. 7, 2021  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

In July 2019, David Auclair was murdered in Hinesburg and although those charged in his case have yet to go to trial, his sister Missy Semprebon of Waterbury would like to honor her brother’s memory with a special event next Saturday, Oct. 16. 

“There is a lot up in the air and no closure. We have done two years of graveside remembrance,” Semprebon said. “I think it is important to celebrate all that David was, not just that he is gone and all the sadness that goes along with how he died.”

On Saturday, Oct. 16, family and friends are holding what they hope will become an annual event. This year it will collect donations to benefit the nonprofit organization Autism Speaks, a cause Auclair supported, Semprebon said. 

The plan is to organize a memorial ride from Mt. Abraham Union High School in Bristol, where Auclair’s children attended, to Hope Davey Park in Waterbury Center. “Motorcycles, cars, trucks are all welcome. Kickstands up at 12:30 p.m. and we ride and hopefully enjoy the fall foliage if nature cooperates,” Semprebon explained.

Registration will be from 10 a.m. to noon. A stop is planned at Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington where Auclair is buried. “We will observe a moment of silence and if anyone wants to share a few words they are welcome to,” Semprebon said. “We will then ride along Route 2 ending up at Hope Davey Memorial Park’s pavilion for a barbeque and celebration of life.”

Participants are encouraged to bring food for the grill. 

Commemorative T-shirts will be available to purchase and donations accepted for Autism Speaks, a national charitable organization dedicated to supporting individuals of all ages with autism and their families, advocating for those with autism, and advancing research into interventions to address autism and related conditions.