Tafari Campbell, the personal chef for the Obama Family during their vacations in Martha’s Vineyard, was revealed to have passed away from accidental drowning. The news of his passing in late July garnered significant attention due to his connection to the former President.
The private chef was paddleboarding in the water at the resort community when the accident occurred. His body was found by an emergency response team a day after he was reported missing.
A Massachusetts state official informed reporters that an autopsy concluded that he drowned, confirmed by The Independent. The 45-year-old chef was not wearing flotation equipment while paddleboarding and was accompanied by another paddleboarder when the incident occurred. Unfortunately, his companion was unable to rescue him.
After witnessing Campbell go overboard, the male companion swam back to the shore to immediately call 911 to report the incident. However, rescue teams were unable to locate and revive Campbell in time.
While Barack Obama was in office, Campbell was a sous chef at the White House. He then went on to work for the family in their post-presidential home.
The Obamas, who were not in town during that time, expressed their shock and sadness over Campbell’s untimely death in a statement.
View this post on Instagram
“Tafari was a beloved part of our family. When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together. 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,” the statement read.
The former First Family continued, “That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone.”
While his autopsy has revealed the extent of the manner in which he died, he leaves behind a legacy of passion and kindness, as relayed by his former employers.
RELATED CONTENT: Michelle Obama Announces New Cooking Show On Netflix