Dr Coptr: The Flying Physician Who Kept His Promise To Tangier Island

by Bill Lohmann

When Dr. David Nichols began flying to Tangier Island on his day off each week, he vowed to island residents that he would never abandon them, and for more than three decades he never did. This is the inspiring story of a Canadian-born physician and pilot, a quirky island in the Chesapeake Bay and the remarkable relationship they forged.

316 pages, Paperback

Published September 20, 2018

Reviews

[Ddoddmccue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lohmann offered a heartwarming summary of a intensely caring relationship between a unique and threatened community and its fly-in-on-Thursday physician. And his legacy, which includes a new health center, additional medical professions, and increased health insurance coverage.

While I was previously aware of Dr. Nichols’ 30 year commitment to Tangiers Island (and am even more familiar with Hummel Field ), Lohmann’s focus on Tangiers’ residents and their very personal links to the good doctor is rich in detail and inspiration. Their affection is returned, with Nichols’ final wishes a touching conclusion.

Published in 2018, the book acknowledges the extreme threats to this fragile island’s existence as a result of sinking land and a rising bay. Sadly these threats continue but at an accelerated rate.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to set this book aside because I had a book from the library coming due and had to finish it. I hated to do it.... because from the minute I starting reading DR COPTR I was hooked.

I was very lucky to visit this tiny island back in the ‘90s with three generations of my family and we all enjoyed our trip immensely from the boat ride to the island... to the wonderful lunch and the crazed golf cart ride we had to hang onto for dear life unless we wanted to be thrown off the back!! Oh.... but it was all so much fun!!

The hospital there at the time was just a dilapidated old off white building.... but the staff came out to talk to us.

I think it was truly a wonderful thing that Dr. David Nichols did for this tiny community. Such dedication!! Bill Lohmann did an excellent job catching the human touch that was involved with Dr. Nichols and his staff and all of the patients he tended to over the years.

I remember reading with great sadness of his cancer diagnosis and can only imagine the emptiness the loss of his life brought to Tangier Island.

It’s very fitting that his final resting place is outside the beloved hospital he worked so hard to have built.

The pictures in the book were wonderful, the writing was wonderful and I feel like I took a part of Tangier Island and tucked it deeply in my heart.

[Dan Ream · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill Lohmann does a great job of telling the story of Dr David Nichols’ over 30 years of weekly flights to Tangier Island in the Chesapeake Bay, where he served as that community’s only doctor. Interesting perspectives from the island residents, his professional colleagues and his family members.Lohmann describes not only how the island residents felt about Nichols, but also the emotional rewards Nichols received from this dedicated work.