Westfield Students Set Candlelight Vigil For Late Principal

WESTFIELD, NJ - The first memorial to honor Westfield High School Principal Dr. Derrick Nelson, who passed away Sunday at the age of 44, has been set for Wednesday night.

Westfield High School students are holding the vigil in front of the high school at 550 Dorian Road. The vigil is being organized by the WHS Student Government Association (SGA) with the assistance of the WHS Parent-Teacher-Student Organization (PTSO).

Nelson's death sparked shock and grief throughout the Westfield community and beyond as mourners lamented the loss of the educator, mentor and Veteran.

Westfield Superintendent Dr. Margaret Dolan released a statement Tuesday afternoon with her thoughts:

Dr. Derrick Nelson was a gift to Westfield High School, to the Westfield Public Schools, and to our community.

As a committed educator, he understood that he was a role model at all times– for students, for staff and for his colleagues.

He had a strong moral compass – perhaps the strongest moral compass I have ever experienced – that was evident as he worked with staff and as he dealt with students on challenging issues.
Dr. Nelson joined the Westfield Public Schools in 2010 as the Assistant Principal of Roosevelt Intermediate School.

He then served as Assistant Principal and Principal at Westfield High School – a school with over 1800 students.

Since hearing of Dr. Nelson’s death, I have spoken with students, parents, teachers, custodians, secretaries, counselors, nurses and just about every group you can imagine. Many had stories of how he had helped them as they dealt with an illness. Others recalled his infectious laugh or his commitment to his students. I remember how he was forever taking on a new challenge, working to better understand a new curriculum, looking for ways to improve a complex high school schedule.

But Westfield was only one of Dr. Nelson’s families. I would like to offer my condolences to his parents, his fiancé and his daughter. He loved his time with his family and shared stories of BBQs and birthday parties.

Dr. Nelson was also admired and loved in his community and his church.
Another family includes members of his fraternity – his Omega brothers. You could not find a more loyal group of men.

And, somehow, he managed to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves for over 20 years and served our country in the Middle East.

Many of us are struggling with this loss. But we are committed to continuing Dr. Nelson’s legacy. We will set high standards for ourselves as Dr. Nelson set for himself. And, as Dr. Nelson has done, we will think less of ourselves and more of others around us. He has taught us many lessons.

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