Over the weekend, a heartbreaking incident unfolded on Martha’s Vineyard as the personal chef to the Obama family, Tafari Campbell, lost his life while paddleboarding near their former residence. Massachusetts State Police revealed the details on Monday.
Tafari Campbell, aged 45 and from Dumfries, Va., was visiting the Vineyard when the unfortunate event occurred. His body was discovered close to 10 a.m. on Monday, approximately 100 feet from the shore in Edgartown Great Pond. The water was about eight feet deep, and the discovery was made by the Massachusetts Environmental Police, who conducted an extensive hours-long search, employing sonar from a boat, with the assistance of various law enforcement agencies.
During the incident, former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama were not present at their home. The state police confirmed that an investigation into Mr. Campbell’s passing is underway, being conducted jointly by the state police and the Edgartown Police Department. Mr. Campbell had previously served as a sous chef during the Obamas’ time in the White House and had continued working with them afterward.
The emergency services from Edgartown responded to a call just before 8pm on Sunday at Edgartown Great Pond near Turkeyland Cove, where Mr. Obama owns a summer residence. The call reported a male paddleboarder who had gone into the water and appeared to struggle briefly to stay afloat before submerging and not resurfacing.
During the incident, another paddleboarder was present on the pond and witnessed him submerge in the water, as confirmed by the police. The Massachusetts State Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, and multiple local fire units, including divers, joined forces to conduct the search.
After several hours of relentless searching on Sunday night, the operation was temporarily suspended to allow the dive teams, flight crews, and other responders to regroup and determine the next course of action, as stated by the state police.
Image via Ray Ewing
Chief Alex Schaeffer of the Edgartown Fire Department informed The Vineyard Gazette that island police officers and firefighters carried out door-to-door searches once Mr. Campbell was reported missing. Additionally, firefighters scoured the shoreline of the pond on foot during their efforts to locate him.
In a statement, Mr. and Mrs. Obama called Mr. Campbell “a truly wonderful man” and “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,” they said. “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 Obamas expressed that as they prepared to depart the White House, they invited Mr. Campbell to continue working with them, and he has been an integral part of their lives ever since. The news of his passing has left them heartbroken.
According to their statement, Mr. Campbell is survived by his wife, Sherise, and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin.
The Obamas, longtime visitors to Martha’s Vineyard during the summer, acquired a secluded 30-acre property on the south shore in 2019, making it their cherished retreat. Their spacious seven-bedroom, 6,900-square-foot residence overlooks Edgartown Great Pond, offering breathtaking views of the barrier beach and the ocean. This serene coastal pond, with its still, brackish waters and various inlets, is a favorite spot among recreational boaters, especially kayakers and paddleboarders, seeking to experience the beauty of a stunning sunset.
The National Weather Service reported fair and clear weather conditions on the night of Sunday, with a comfortable high temperature around 70 degrees.
Mr. Obama has been visiting Martha’s Vineyard since his time as an Illinois senator, and he traditionally spends part of every August on the island, with the exception of 2012 during a re-election campaign.
Sadly, this is not the first time a chef associated with a former American president has passed away unexpectedly. In 2015, Walter Scheib, a former executive chef who served during the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, accidentally drowned during a hike in Taos, N.M.
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Fharnell M.
