Tragic End for Former US President Obama’s Personal Chef
A personal chef for former US president Barack Obama perished in an accident involving paddle boarding near the Obamas’ home in Massachusetts.
Tafari Campbell, 45, worked at the White House before remaining with the Obama family after Mr. Obama’s 2016 departure from office.
On Sunday, he went AWOL in the waters of Martha’s Vineyard’s Edgartown Great Pond.
The Obamas issued a statement praising his abilities in and out of the kitchen.
“Tafari was a cherished family member. Mr. Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama said Monday that when they first encountered him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House who was creative and passionate about food and its ability to bring people together.
In the years that followed, we came to know him as a warm, humorous, and exceedingly kind individual who made all of our lives a little bit brighter.
ALSO READ: US Offers Russian Food Aid to Relieve Kenya’s Burden
At the time of his death, Mr. Campbell was visiting Massachusetts island from his residence in Virginia. The Obama family was not at home at the time of the tragedy, according to the police.
According to a police report, a search was initiated on Sunday night for a male paddleboarder who had entered the water, appeared to momentarily struggle to stay afloat, submerged, and did not resurface.
“Another paddleboarder on the pond at the time witnessed him submerge,” the report continued.
On Monday, his body was discovered “approximately 100 feet (30 meters) from the shore at an approximate depth of eight feet.”
CBS News reported that the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit is investigating his death, but it is believed to be an accident.
Mr. Campbell worked in the White House during the eight years that Mr. Obama was in office.
During this period, he contributed to the development of some of the most renowned presidential recipes, including a beer brewed with ingredients grown at the White House.
When it was time to leave Washington, they asked Mr. Campbell to accompany them, and he “generously agreed,” according to the Obamas’ statement.
Since then, he has been a part of our lives, and our hearts are devastated by his passing. Today, we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari in mourning his passing, particularly his wife Sherise, and their twin sons, Xavier and Savin.
Tragic End for Former US President Obama’s Personal Chef
