Long Time TRIO Advocate Passes

TRIO, and especially Upward Bound, has lost a champion. On the morning of July 27, Peggy Whitehead passed away after a long illness of cancer. 

She was the former Team Leader of the College and University Preparation Team, in the Office of Federal TRIO Programs, Washington, DC.  Before that, she was an Upward Bound program specialist for California, Oklahoma, and at various times, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.  She had more than 25 years federal service before she retired.

Many called her WESTOP’s “guardian angel” because she openly protected WESTOP programs.

In 1992, WESTOP paid tribute to her during the Council on Opportunity in Education (COE but then the National Council on Education Opportunity Associations or NCEOA).  Members attending the luncheon ceremony presented her with a statue of an eagle with an inscription.

WESTOP created the Peggy Whitehead Scholarship, its only student scholarship, to honor her name and service to the region.

Rosie Lopez, Upward Bound director from Imperial Valley College shares, “We were guided by her as she taught us how to deal with the US Department of Education. She believed in all of us to provide the best services to our students and become the best TRIO Project Directors. She made us see how important it was to care for and invest ourselves in our students and their families. And, because of her support and efforts we were able to care for our student's hopes and dreams. We were never questioned on our prior experience points and our proposals because she believed in our work.”

Services will be conducted on Tuesday, August 4, 12:00 pm, at the Adams Green Funeral Home
721 Elden Street
Herndon, Virginia 20170
703-437-1764

From the Washington Post:

Peggy J. Whitehead
WHITEHEAD PEGGY J. WHITEHEAD Peggy J. Whitehead, age 71, died on July 27, 2009 at her home in Chantilly, VA. She was born on February 2, 1938 in Ocean City, MD to the late Charles L. and Naomi T. Waite. Peggy received her degree in education from Hood University with honors. Early in her career Peggy taught school at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School and Wheaton High School, she then went on to work for the United States Department of Education, retiring after 37 years as the Team Leader for the Federal TRIO Programs office. Peggy was the beloved wife of the late Edmund Whitehead, sister-in-law of Patricia Lee Whitehead of Bethesda, MD, Aunt of Bonnie Wiley of Snow Hill, MD, Charles Waite of Snow Hill, MD, Sarah Amanda Whitehead of Bethesda, MD and Marion Danielle Whitehead of Bethesda, MD, devoted companion of Sunshine. Peggy will be greatly missed by all of her numerous friends from all over the country. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 4 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, where funeral services will be held at 12 noon. Internment will immediately follow at Emmanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery, Middleburg, VA. The family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the Medi-Home Health and Hospice, 9625 Surveyor Court, Suite 230, Manassas, VA 20110.

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