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Brian Copeland Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Brian Copeland
Sponsored by His Loving Family.
Jeffrey Bennett
June 6, 2025
To my wonderful friend after 12 years you are still missed everyday wishing you peace wherever you are.
ME Ritchie
June 9, 2023
Dr. Copeland cared for my infant son in 1984 and followed him thru his recovery. He was a very kind and gentle, may God bless him.
robert dingeman
July 10, 2020
Doctor Copeland saved my child's life 27 years and one day ago.
Kathleen McCarthy
June 6, 2019
Once again, as the 6th anniversary of the passing of a great man and doctor we all know as Dr. Brian Copeland, comes around, we call to mind what an extraordinary human being he was! Not only did his skills as a compassionate, determined surgeon give so many people their lives back, but his everyday kindness and generosity touched so many more peoples' lives! He is still very missed by all who loved and admired him, but he would be so happy to know that you are happy and thriving, Margaret. I look so forward to seeing you soon, and in the meantime, take care and God bless!
Forever Grateful
August 13, 2017
What a wonderful Dr he was. He was willing to do a surgery no one else was, and now, 18 years later, I am still walking because of him!
One of our many trips
Jeffrey Bennett
August 22, 2016
Brian was not only my Doctor but a very close friend. WE shared trips to Hawaii to Fish, He was a great Friend and a great Doctor I miss him every day
Kathleen McCarthy
August 22, 2016
Margaret,
I know you still miss Brian/Dr. Copeland very much, and understandably so! As exemplified in all these wonderful tributes, he was truly a kind, loving, skilled, generous man and surgeon! His passing was way too premature as one person put it, but I know you find comfort in knowing how much he was loved and appreciated by everyone whose life he had touched. I only wished I had more time to get to know him better! You are right, though, that he is forever in your hearts! May the Lord continue to comfort you, and give you fond/sweet memories of your husband, Brian Copeland.
August 20, 2016
I want to medical school with Brian and just learned he died. He was a great person, a superior physician, and someone who always cared about his patients more than himself. An enormous loss....
beverly Bull
July 20, 2015
Always wanted to call him and say Thank You for saving my life..I heard he had moved at of California.Put his name in and i found this.wow I remember he said to me just trust me. and i did.
Dan Oury
April 27, 2015
I just looked up Dr. Copeland because he was my surgeon 25 years ago tomorrow...so sorry to hear he's gone. I owe my life to him.
Ashley Gross
October 23, 2014
I was born with Spinal Bifida in 1985 and Dr. Brian Copeland closed up the hole in my spine, and because of him I am able to walk. Thank God for him. He will be missed.
Michael Lesicka
July 15, 2014
I had the pleasure of working with
Dr. Copeland at Scripps Green Hospital.
He made me feel like part of the OR team.
I am saddened by his passing. He will be missed greatly by all who knew him.
Dayton T Shanahan
November 7, 2013
So sorry for your loss. Dr. Copeland was a great doctor and he will be missed. He operated on my husband in 2007 and took his pain away. We will always be thankful for his skill and bedside manner.
Grace Madden
August 20, 2013
Dr. Copeland perfomed the Gamma Knife procedure on my mother in law Leilah Madden, after she had suffered for many years with tri-germinal neuralgia. The procedure was successful and she was able to live pain free. She and we (her family) will always be grateful for Dr. Copeland's skill, and the kindness with which he treated her.
Grace Madden
Annie Murphy
August 7, 2013
Dr. Copeland was a wonderful man who will be sorely missed by all of the lives he has touched. It was my pleasure to know him and accommodate his Website needs. He was a genuinely warm, and gracious person. I am so sorry to hear of his untimely passing. Prayers to you, Margaret and family.
Julie Rojas
July 24, 2013
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
Carol Bade
July 3, 2013
Margaret, Stephanie and Garrett,
It is so hard to put into words how sad we all are over the loss of precious Brian. What an incredible blessing and gift it has been to have known him. He taught us how to live and how to love life. We will remember his smile, his singing and his laughter forever. We love you and are praying for you everyday.
Carol (Coco), Max and Sarah Bade
June 27, 2013
Margaret so many wonderful testimonies written here about Brian! He was a very special person. Lean on your friends and family during this unbelievable time of grief. They will help ease the pain and comfort you.
Mary and John Gorte
Robert D. Dingeman M.D.
June 24, 2013
The sympathies of the Kristina Dingeman family whose life was saved from a tumor in 1993 in San Diego are extended to all his family and who knew him.
Lisa Gross
June 20, 2013
It was my distinct pleasure and honor to work with Dr. Copeland at Green Hospital. La Jolla. It saddens me deeply to hear of his passing. No matter how intense each case may have seemed, Dr. Copeland was always in control. I still remember a funny story he told us once in the OR about how he got to get into Studio 54 during it's heyday. I am so sorry for your loss and am thinking of all of Dr. Copeland's family. . May loving memories bring you peace.
Jack Zyroff
June 17, 2013
My condolences to the entire Copeland family on this tragic and premature loss. I worked with Brian for many years, going all the way back to our training at the Neurological Institute of Columbia Presbyterian in New York, continuing on for 20 years at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla. He was a superb and dedicated neurosurgeon and an exemplary human being. This is a profound and sad loss to all who knew him.
Jack Zyroff, MD
Head, Division of Neuroradiology
Scripps Clinic
La Jolla, California
Prabhakar Tripuraneni
June 16, 2013
I am sorry to hear Brian passing away.
He was a good man and a great colleague. I greatly enjoyed working with him at Scripps. We will all miss him.
June 14, 2013
We were shocked and saddened to hear of Brian's passing. Our deepest sympathy and condolences to you all.
Pat Bierlein and Pat Sellenraad
Eileen Ling (retired MMMC)
June 14, 2013
My sincerest sympathy to you, Margaret and family. Dr. Copeland will surely be missed by so many.
Angela Sheets
June 14, 2013
Dear Margaret, my deepest condolences to you, your family, and Brian's family, too. Brian certainly made the world a better place.
Lynn McMullin
June 13, 2013
Margaret, Stephanie and Garrett,
We are so sorry for your loss. You all are in our thoughts and prayers and hope you find comfort during this difficult time by recalling the wonderful times you shared together.
Chris, Lynn, Joseph and Matt McMullin
Jennifer Simmons Hallman
June 13, 2013
I am so very sorry, Margaret. Brian certainly had a special place in my heart. What a wonderful man!
Emily
June 13, 2013
So sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to his friends and family.
Cecilia Gomez-Engler
June 13, 2013
As a longtime friend of Casey's, I spent many of my adolescent evenings chatting with him in the kitchen about life and listening to him singing a Rolling Stones tune in the car on the way home after school. He was truly a loving, kind and vibrant man. He will always have a special place in my heart and I send my deepest condolences to his family. He will be dearly missed.
Bayne MacKenzie
June 13, 2013
Margaret, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Dr. Copeland was such a sweet generous man and it was a pleasure to know him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. ~ Bayne and Dave MacKenzie
Kara M.
June 13, 2013
I was saddened to see this obituary. Please accept my condolences on your loss. I knew him only as Dr. Copeland; he saved my life through GammaKnife surgery. At a time when my health, and survival, was questionable, Dr. Copeland was a light in the dark. I was blessed to have him as one of my physicians and the world will not be the same without him.
Sherry & Jeff Rogers
June 13, 2013
Margaret, we didn't know you and Brian very well but always enjoyed seeing you and eating dinner with you at the Dow Corning Tennis Classic every year. We're so sorry for your loss. Jeff & Sherry Rogers
The Office of Surendra Kaul MD PC
June 13, 2013
Our prayers and thoughts go out to you and your family at your time of loss, your husband will be dearly missed.
June 12, 2013
Dear Margaret,
Norman and I are deeply saddened of Brian's passing. Our thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
Please accept our sincere condolence.
Love,Ethel and Norman.
Molly and Brian McFadden
June 12, 2013
We are greatly saddened at the passing of this wonderful friend. Our hearts and prayers are with Margaret and her family. Molly and Brian McFadden
Lisa, Andy & George Setos
June 12, 2013
The Setos Family send their heartfelt condolences to Brian's family, to Casey Bounoguidi and her mother, Nancy. It's hard to imagine that he is gone and at such a young age. May the Lord comfort you and bring you peace.
Alicia Van-Y
June 12, 2013
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. As a patient of his, I can say he was truly an amazing doctor, and will be missed.
Ann Underhill
June 12, 2013
My prayers and thoughts go out to Margaret Copeland and Garrett Kennedy. I am so sorry for your loss. Even though I never met Dr. Copeland, I heard many great things!
Sam Williams
June 12, 2013
Brian and I were at about 16,000 feet elevation with only six or seven hundred feet to the top remaining. Brian was fighting the nausea back, symptons of low oxygen. The safe move would have been to turn around. The easy move would have been to turn around. The nine days prior to this moment had already burned, blistered and scraped any exposed skin surface. The rock was sharp and the air was cold but the weather was holding. Brian had his mind set on the top and nothing was going to stop him. I watched Brian mentally will himself up to the summit. From there you could see to the next continent. We were bullet proof in those days. Our deepest sympathy to Margaret and the family.
Sam, Flori and Jack Williams
Elyse Dorian Erege Miles Adams
June 12, 2013
A better friend there will never be. Brian will be
In our present and our future forever! his warmth and love are ever present . So a cheer to a life
Cherished and well lived!
(Elyse Adams Dorian Erege and Miles)
Callie Bartlett
June 12, 2013
I've had the honor of working for Dr. Brian Copeland for the past six years. Throughout those six years, I've picked up on so many of the traits that made Dr. Copeland who he was; a man of unquestionable integrity and character. He's changed so many lives for the better and loved doing so. My heart goes out to Margaret and their family. We've lost a truly inspirational man, who gave so much back to society in so many ways. I will miss his strength, his honesty, his humor and more than anything, the way he always made me feel welcome and significant. He will forever be remembered.
Jim Reif
June 12, 2013
We are deeply saddened to hear of Brian's passing. His smile and sense of humor will always be remembered. Thoughts and prayers are with Margaret and family.
Jim and Mary Reif
Kate Moran
June 12, 2013
So sad to hear of Brian's passing...he will be missed at Point Lookout. Sending love and prayers to Brian's family and especially,Margaret. With deepest sympathy, Kate and Mark Moran
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