Flying was one of the many interests of the late Niles surgeon Donald Camp, who passed away Feb. 16 at age 87. Beside Donald is his wife, Mary. Submitted photo

When a powerful storm knocked down many of the large trees in Donald Camp’s yard in the late ‘90s, the Niles man didn’t dismay.

According to Camp’s longtime friend, Larry Reichanadter Jr., Camp got a portable sawmill and began cutting the fallen trees, turning the mess into lumber he would later use for various things, such as his many woodworking projects.

Reichanadter said Camp even went as far as kiln drying the wood in his barn. Reichanadter ended up with some of the wood, too.

“He (Camp) told me, ‘When you are handed a bunch of lemons, make lemonade,’” Reichanadter said. “That was just the kind of guy he was. I’ll never forget that.”

Camp, one of Niles’ most respected surgeons, passed away Feb. 16 at age 87, following a brief illness.

Friends and family paid Camp their respects during services in Niles last week, saying goodbye to a man who had as many passions as he had friends.

In addition to running a practice as a general surgeon in Niles for almost 50 years, Camp was a licensed pilot, avid swimmer, ham radio operator, sailor, bed and breakfast owner and, yes, even a square-dance caller.

“He had a ton of hobbies,” said Bill Camp, Don’s youngest son. “It is hard to even say them all.”

Bill said his father didn’t do anything halfway. Don would put his legendary work ethic into everything he did, even his hobbies.

It is a trait that rubbed off on his four children.

“The whole family really throws themselves totally into their work,” Bill said. “That is certainly one of the things that we all have picked up from him, and that is something that will never go away.”

Although Don kept himself busy, he was always willing to help a friend in need.

Reichanadter recalled a time when he had an electrical problem with his boat. Don spent an hour walking Reichanadter through the fix over the phone.

Don’s co-worker, Richard McCreedy, a retired OBGYN doctor, said Don would help him in a pinch.

“Whenever I needed an assistant for a C-section, Don would come running,” McCreedy said. “He was always a good friend to me and always seemed to welcome new doctors to town. He didn’t see them as competition. He saw them as associates and colleagues and was always willing to work with them. That isn’t always the case in our profession.”