In a tragic turn of events, Tafari Campbell, the personal chef to former U.S. President Barack Obama and his family, died in a paddleboarding accident near the Obamas' Massachusetts home. The 45-year-old culinary expert, who had previously served as a sous chef at the White House, was recovered from the waters of Edgartown Great Pond on Martha's Vineyard.
Campbell, originally from Dumfries, Virginia, was visiting the Massachusetts island at the time of his untimely death. The Massachusetts State Police confirmed that the Obamas were not present at the residence when the accident occurred. The search for Campbell began on Sunday evening when local police and fire agencies responded to a 911 call reporting a male paddleboarder who had gone into the water, appeared to struggle briefly to stay on the surface, and then submerged without resurfacing.
The Massachusetts State Police Underwater Recovery Unit divers located Campbell's body on Monday morning, approximately 100 feet from the shore at a depth of about eight feet. The recovery was facilitated by Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers who deployed side-scan sonar from a boat. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Campbell's death is ongoing, conducted by the State Police Detective Unit for the Cape and Islands District and Edgartown Police.
The Obamas expressed their heartfelt condolences in a statement, describing Campbell as a "beloved part of our family." The former president and first lady Michelle Obama praised Campbell's culinary creativity and passion for food, as well as his warm and kind personality. "In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter," they said.
Campbell's culinary prowess extended beyond the kitchen. He was one of the chefs who brewed the White House honey ale beer, using honey from Michelle Obama's South Lawn garden. The Obamas asked Campbell to stay with them when they were preparing to leave the White House, and he generously agreed. "He's been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he's gone," the Obamas added.
The Obamas joined others who knew and loved Campbell in grieving his loss, extending their sympathies especially to his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin. "Today we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari — especially his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin — in grieving the loss of a truly wonderful man," they said.