THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 27, 1994 TAG: 9411270104
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL AND STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Ramona B. Stenzhorn, 52, the principal at Salem High School and one of the most senior principals in the city school system, died Friday while on a trip to Northern Virginia.
Stenzhorn, who had been with the school system more than three decades, died of a heart attack, officials said.
``Ramona had done an outstanding job throughout the years,'' said Sidney L. Faucette, superintendent of schools.
``She had a real flair and enthusiasm for what she did.''
Faucette said Stenzhorn ``was loved by students, staff and many, many parents. . . . We were all proud of her, and we're going to miss her very, very badly. This is a real tough time for us.''
Stenzhorn had previously served as principal at Shelton Park Elementary School, Linkhorn Park Elementary School, Rosemont Elementary School and Virginia Beach Junior High School. She was in her third year at Salem.
She also was on the staff of the Hampton Center of George Washington University, where she taught aspiring public school administrators.
``She was a crackerjack principal,'' said Michael Debranski, principal at Bayside High School. ``I learned a lot from her. She was a very sharp individual.''
Stenzhorn's fellow principals and other school officials were informed of her death Saturday morning.
News also spread quickly through the student body.
``It seemed like she was very loving, very caring about everyone,'' said Quyen Tieu, 16, a junior. ``She was really in touch with the students. She'd take time to talk to us any time we needed to.''
Students described Stenzhorn as being fair-minded and of good humor.
They also said she was a ``straight-shooter.''
Chris Gaffrey, 16, a junior, said Stenzhorn ``was the best principal we had there.''
Gaffrey recalled how, on a day when top school and city officials were holding a meeting at Salem, Stenzhorn put off going to the session until she could attend a student function.
He recalled another situation where a girl at school had volunteered to be the Lamaze coach to a friend. But to do that, she needed to carry a beeper so she could be alerted when the friend went into labor.
School rules prohibit students from carrying beepers, however.
Stenzhorn solved the dilemma by carrying the beeper herself, along with a copy of the student's schedule so that if the time came during classes, she could alert the student.
``She would really be involved. She would really look out for everyone,'' Gaffrey said. ``If you needed help, she was there.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ramona B. Stenzhorn, 52, died of a heart attack Friday while on a
trip to Northern Virginia.
by CNB