“He was the greatest,” Willie Nelson, 82, told ABC News. He added that the family doesn’t know the exact cause of death, but was told Derrick may have suffered a heart attack.
Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan said in a statement that she has talked with students, parents, teachers, counselors and nurses, who all shared stories of how Nelson had helped them. “Many of us are struggling with this loss. But we are committed to continuing Dr. Nelson’s legacy,” Dolan wrote. “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.”“This is a tremendous loss for our community, and I know that our children, and we as parents, will struggle with coming to terms with this over the coming days and weeks,” Brindle wrote.
Derrick Nelson joined 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 1,800 students, according to the school district. Nelson, who was born and raised in New Jersey, earned a doctorate in Education Administration from Seton Hall University. He also served as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve for more than two decades, including a stint in the Middle East, according to Westfield Public Schools.
Now that is the American way. No greater love ............
Tragic, while there are many sad situations, this is an unexpected and troubling turn of events, he was a principal doing an act of good. Its proper to honor people who do good work and/or show an altruistic nature in service to their community. Quite tragic
A REAL HERO! 🙏 PRAYING FOR ALL WHO KNEW HIM AND HAPPY TO HEAR HIS SCHOOL WILL DO THEIR BEST TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS!!
😥
RIP
May God rest his soul😔
Hero
This is so sad! You will receive your Angel wings in heaven. My condolences to your family and prayers to the family of the child. Please don't feel that it was your fought
This man should have a funeral fit with honors not only did he serve in military but also out of the kindness of his heart sacrificed to help save another this is a decent man may he rest in peace prayers thoughts to his family !!
Hail to this hero in more ways than one !! reading this broke my heart left me in tears it is beyond sad
This is so sad, RIP
May he rest in peace
Since I'm a registered marrow donor, I'd like to know what happened here. Was it complications from donating or did he have some other health issue that caused him to die? Please follow up.
RIP
Hero.
So sad. May he RIP and especially after doing such a wonderful thing for someone else. 🙏🏻😢🙏🏻
This one really got me. Heart wrenching!
He lived a life of service. He was also a Sargeant in the Army reserves. RIP to a decent man.
💔
Go fund me for his children if he has any
Tragic. What courage and altruism
RIP.. a final gift
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