Late Westfield Principal Honored With Courtyard Dedication At High School

WESTFIELD, NJ — A dedication ceremony was held at Westfield High School on Tuesday, Sept. 20 to honor the high school's beloved former principal Dr. Derrick Nelson.

The courtyard at the high school is now named the Dr. Derrick Nelson Memorial Courtyard in memory of the principal who died in 2019 from complications suffered during a procedure to donate stem cells to a boy in France he didn't know.

Read more: Westfield High School Principal Dr. Derrick Nelson Dies

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

Family, friends, and colleagues joined in the ceremony at Westfield High School, including Nelson’s fiancé, Sheronda Braker, their daughter Morgan, his parents Willie and Juanita Nelson and current and former Westfield Public Schools superintendents Dr. Raymond González and Dr. Margaret Dolan.

González welcomed all those gathered for the dedication and noted that, having joined the Westfield Public School District a year ago, he “did not have the privilege or honor” to have known Nelson.

“It is clear that he was a remarkable person and a tremendous force… as an educator, a leader, an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, a friend, and a family man,” González said.

Braker expressed appreciation for the courtyard dedication.

“I’m really honored to be here today as we dedicate this long-awaited memorial garden,” Braker said. “Dr. Nelson was a proud leader of Westfield High School and I might be a little biased in saying he did a phenomenal job as principal.”

In preparing her remarks, Braker said she thought about the meaning of the memorial garden including happiness, purity, creating peace between people, inclusion, and community.

“Dr. Nelson believed in inclusion and community. Some of his work in Westfield at the high school and the middle school were examples of just that,” she said, citing a number of programs and initiatives created by Nelson.

According to his obituary, Nelson established the "Plainfield/Westfield exchange" when he started as the Assistant Principal at Roosevelt Intermediate School. The program allowed students and teachers from both communities to collaborate on the book "Of Mice and Men" with a central focus on the American Dream.

A smiling image of Nelson now adorns a memorial stone in the Remembrance Garden surrounded by a pergola, paver bricks, benches, decorative stone mulch, and the American flag flying above.

Adjacent is a paver brick plaza called “The Commons,” with an overhead shade sail stretching above picnic tables. The tables were provided through a donation from the Optimist Club of Westfield, according to the district.

“It is wonderful to finally be standing before you sharing this beautiful space that is a fitting tribute to a man we admired, respected, loved and just wanted to be around,” said Westfield High School principal Mary Asfendis.

Asfendis said there has been much discussion about how to honor Nelson after his passing.

“After many conversations with students, teachers, administrators, and parents, it felt right that renovating our courtyard would honor what Derrick brought to this school each day," Asfendis said. "It would be a student-focused space that would allow students to connect with one another, dedicate themselves to school work and have a little fun. This was also a place important to [Nelson] in his connection to the staff as he started the tradition of an annual staff barbecue that we continue each year in his memory.”

WHS Student Body President Patrick Lanza noted that students have been enjoying the courtyard since last spring, “eating their lunches, swapping stories, bringing their laptops to work quietly, collaborating on a class project, or stealing a quiet moment to read a good book in a sunny spot.”

“We know that Dr. Nelson would have loved this space and the positive energy it brings to our school community,” Lanza said.

Dolan, who served as superintendent from 2007-2021, acknowledged the dedicated efforts that took place to renovate the courtyard.

“I hope all students will look at Derrick’s picture and see what I see,” Dolan said as she
referenced the memorial stone. “When I look at that picture of Dr. Nelson, I see a proud man,
secure in his own skin, who faced each day with a broad smile, a smile and a personality big
enough to reach all 2,000 students in the halls and in the courtyard of Westfield High School.”

Have a news tip? Email remy.samuels@patch.com.