Rhonda Marie Whitfield

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rhonda Whitfield, 60, a longtime Staten Island educator who served as a public school principal prior to holding an appointed position with the District 31 Community Education Council, died Sunday of complications from a bone marrow transplant in New York Presbyterian Hospital, Manhattan.

Born Rhonda Marie Chamblee in Brooklyn, she moved to New Brighton in 1978. After a brief stint in Elm Park, Mrs. Whitfield settled in West Brighton in 1985.

She graduated from Prospect Heights High School, Brooklyn, in 1971, and three years later, earned a bachelor's degree in speech education from the State University of New York College at Oneonta. Mrs. Whitfield also held master's degrees in education administration and supervision from City College of New York and special education from the College of Staten Island, said family.

Mrs. Whitfield began her 34-year career as an educator in 1974 as an educational paraprofessional. She later became a teacher and special education teacher who taught at Prall Intermediate School and PS 18, both West Brighton, before becoming a special education supervisor.

Mrs. Whitfield was named an assistant principal at Dreyfus Intermediate School, Stapleton, in the 1990s.

In 2002, the longtime Staten Island resident became principal of PS 44 in Mariners Harbor. Six years later, she retired.

A year into retirement, Borough President James P. Molinaro appointed her as his representative on the District 31 Community Education Council for two terms.

"She was dedicated to children, especially those with special needs," said Molinaro, adding she was sensitive to their needs and services.

Longtime friend and former college roommate Geri Taylor-Brown recalled that Mrs. Whitfield tutored students while she was in high school. She said the Brooklyn native also assisted at other neighborhood schools and churches when she was younger.

"In her head, she was always a teacher," said Ms. Taylor-Brown, who noted Mrs. Whitfield's proudest moment came when she became a principal after having gone through the ranks of the education system.

"We need more people like her in the field of education. She was dedicated to the commitment of making our children better citizens," said Molinaro.

Mrs. Whitfield was a member of the Staten Island Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She was also involved with the YMCA in West Brighton.

In 2008, she was honored for being a community builder by the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) North Shore Staten Island Section.

Her hobbies included reading and writing song lyrics, which will be performed at Mrs. Whitfield's funeral, said family.

She was a dedicated member and volunteer at True Vine Christian Fellowship Church, West Brighton, where she gathered literature for the location and provided community outreach.

"Rhonda was the voice of reason," said Ms. Taylor-Brown. "She was always stable, always consistent, and always humble."

Surviving are her husband of 34 years, Sam.

The funeral will be Monday from the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners, with a mass at 10 a.m. in Calvary Chapel, Mariners Harbor. Burial will follow at Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.