Letters: Thank you to Capt. Jeff Corkhill

Editor’s note: Capt. Jeff Corkhill (pictured above at right) will be moving on from Boca Grande as of Monday, and Lt. Jeff Sawicki, who had been at Captiva Island, will be taking his place. Island residents wrote in to the Boca Beacon to say thank you for his 13 years of service. A news story about the change is HERE.

A great resource, dedicated leader

To the Editor: 

We have had the privilege of living on Boca Grande during the time that Capt. Jeff Corkhill from the Lee County Sheriff’s office has been assigned to Boca Grande. We understand that he has taken a new assignment and will no longer be assigned to Boca Grande.

He has been a truly dedicated leader in the community, and we have always been impressed with his ability to manage any situation with professionalism combined with kindness and compassion.

Thank you to Capt. Jeff Corkhill for 13 years of dedication and service to the residents and visitors of Boca Grande, and best wishes to you and Lori as you transition to a new assignment.

We appreciate all you did for Boca Grande, and you will surely be missed. 

Best regards,

Angela and Mike Steffan

Presence will be missed

To the Editor: 

On behalf of The Island School, we extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation for your 13 years of unwavering dedication and service. It is with mixed emotions that we bid you farewell as you embark on a new assignment.

Your commitment to The Island School has been nothing short of extraordinary, and your impact on our community has been immeasurable. Through your leadership and genuine passion for service, you have not only ensured the safety and wellbeing of our students but have also become a cherished friend to many in the school community.

As you take on new responsibilities, please know that your presence will be greatly missed at The Island School. The void left by your departure will serve as a testament to the impact you’ve had on our school and community. We are grateful for the countless hours you’ve dedicated to making The Island School a safer and more vibrant place.

Wishing you the very best in your new endeavor. May it bring you as much fulfillment and joy as you have brought to all of us here at The Island School and the Boca Grande community. Although we will miss you dearly, we look forward to hearing about your continued success and achievements.

Thank you, Capt. Jeff Corkhill, for your exceptional service, friendship, and the positive mark you’ve left on our community. We are forever grateful for your 13 years of devoted leadership.

Warm regards,

Christine Oliver, Head of School, The Island School

Kind and respectful

To the Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Capt. Jeff Corkhill and his 13 years of dedicated service to the Boca Grande community. Capt. Corkhill consistently supported the Boca Grande Woman’s Club and ensured the services of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) for our Club’s annual events, including the Christmas Tree Lighting, Bike Path Parade and Spring Fair. LCSO also provided assistance at Boca Bargains when situations arose. 

Personally, Capt. Corkhill was always a great resource when I had questions regarding law enforcement or events in Boca Grande. I am going to miss our chats along the golf cart path. His kind and respectful nature made conversations with him such a pleasant experience. My appreciation of his input and guidance is truly heartfelt. 

A few days after Hurricane Ian’s unwelcome visit to Boca Grande, I was in my driveway attempting to remove a large fallen Australian Pine so that our vehicles could return to the driveway. I had removed all of the pieces which I could carry or roll. Jeff and Angelo then appeared asking if I needed any help. I jokingly asked if they had a chainsaw. Jeff immediately responded, “No, but give me a few minutes and I’ll find one.” Within 20 minutes, he and Angelo returned, then cut and removed the remaining tree trunk from our driveway. I will never forget that act of kindness.

Capt. Corkhill will be missed, but I wish him a wonderful new chapter with an abundance of family time and balance in his life! 

Fondly,

Chris Reecher

Vital for Health Clinic

To the Editor:

Capt. Jeff Corkhill has been a steady presence in helping the Boca Grande Health Clinic, whether assisting with COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters or being present when the needs arise. Jeff always had a penchant for understanding what truly needed to be done and wasted little time accomplishing it. And he demonstrated the value of team and community. He is sure to be missed. The Boca Grande Health Clinic staff wishes Jeff the best of success in his new assignment.

Capt. Corkhill has demonstrated a caring and sensitive approach as he has assisted the residents of our quaint little island through the most difficult times of their lives, dealing with illness and stressful health situations and always providing a supportive and human connection to support our patients and their families.  We will miss him as a team member in delivering compassionate and personal care to our island residents and visitors. We wish him and his family all the best.

Sincerely,

Dr. Raymond A. James, D.O., Medical Director, Boca Grande Health Clinic

Brought safety, serenity

To the Editor:

Capt. Jeff Corkhill will be missed in Boca Grande. He embodied the finest qualities of a community police officer on our small and diverse Island. He brought safety and serenity to our roads, bike path and beaches; he solved the thorniest of local crimes with a creativity and insight worthy of Sherlock Holmes; he diplomatically steered wayward spring breakers back to their grandparent’s houses or weekly rental cottages with just a warning and a quiet word of advice. There are surely many other accidents and incidents that Jeff handled with his typical discretion that we’ll never know about…

Jeff knew most everyone on the Island and most everyone knew him. He usually cut the locals a little slack when possible (whether they lived in big beachfront homes or washed dishes in a restaurant). He also occasionally directed misbehaving day-trippers firmly back towards the Causeway. Always with a smile…

Thank you for your years of service to our Island community, Jeff. We wish you all the best in your next assignment, and hope that you’ll come back to visit your friends in Boca Grande soon and often!

Sincerely,

Chad Loebs and Susan Behan