Petition Says Rename Westfield High To Honor 'Hero' Principal

WESTFIELD, NJ - The days after the passing of Westfield High School Principal Derek Nelson have been filled with in-person testimonials, social media remembrances and memorials large and small. But now a petition has been started to rename Westfield High School in honor of the educator and veteran who died Sunday.

Started by Jason Starkman, James Desarno and Mabel Huynh Warren Hynes, the petition seeks to honor Nelson's sacrifice be renaming his place of work.

"This past Sunday Derrick Nelson the principal of Westfield high school, lost his life donating marrow to a 14-year-old boy in France. This level of generosity can’t go unnoticed and this would be a fantastic way to honor his memory," the group posted on the Change.org petition.

The petition, which was rocketing its way up to 10,000 signatures as of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, had many people commenting on why they signed and supported the change.

"He was a generous and unselfish young man helping someone in desperate of a future life that person a teenager and now he has lost his life so naming this school in his name will forever have memories of him and what he did," Rudinell ONeal wrote.

Some, like Adam Fox, don't live in the area but supported the change.

"Good people deserve the proper recognition," Fox said.

Vincent Mora said he supported the name change because it would allow Nelson to live on in Westfield High School history. Michelle Wyrna, a graduate of Westfield High School said the idea of renaming the school was "beautiful." Madelyn Metzger, one of the signatories who knew Nelson personally was clear in her support.

"The kindest man that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing," Metzger said. "He served our community for a decade and no one deserves this more than him."

But it might have been Amy Neruda whose thoughts echoed so many posting on social media and on the petition page who summed it up most succinctly.

"I think its a great way to remember this hero," she said.

In response to the petition, the Westfield Board of Education released a statement:

"The Westfield Public Schools community is deeply touched by the outpouring of condolences, remembrances, and support for Westfield High School principal Dr. Derrick Nelson and his family, following his death on April 7. It is not surprising that Dr. Nelson’s death has evoked this level of heartfelt response. He was a committed educator whose life was a testament to service.

The change.org petition suggesting that Westfield High School be renamed to Derrick Nelson High School further illustrates the enormous respect the community holds for Dr. Nelson.

The Westfield Board of Education and school administration look forward to discussing the petition at a later date. For the immediate future, our focus remains on making sure that we support our students and staff as we all cope with the loss of Dr. Nelson."

You can sign the petition here.

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