Wife of Obama’s Private Chef Tafari Campbell ‘Forever Heartbroken’ Over Martha’s Vineyard Paddle Boarding Death
Tafari Campbell, 45, died Sunday in an accident at Edgartown’s Great Pond. He worked as a personal sous chef for the Obamas while in the White House.
The wife of the Obamas’ personal chef who died in a paddle boarding accident at their Martha’s Vineyard estate on Sunday says she will be ‘forever heartbroken’ by his death.
Tafari Campbell died Sunday evening in an unexplained accident at the pond behind the Obama home.
He went paddle boarding in the calm waters last night, and was seen falling off the board before being completely submerged. The pond is about 8 feet deep.
A 911 call made at 7:49 p.m. said he was dressed in all black and not wearing a life jacket.
Tafari Campbell died yesterday in an unexplained accident in the pond behind the Obama home. He went paddle boarding in calm waters last night and was seen falling off the board
Tafari’s wife shared her tribute on Instagram on Monday morning
Photo: Edgartown Great Pond. A desperate search was launched for Campbell after the paddleboarder went missing in the waters off Martha’s Vineyard on Sunday.
In an Instagram post this morning, Tafari’s wife Sherice said: ‘I’m heartbroken. My life and our family’s life changed forever.
‘Please pray for me and our family as I deal with the loss of my husband.’
The Obamas paid tribute to him as a ‘favorite part of their family’.
They were on the island on Sunday night but were not at the residence at the time of the accident, their office said.
‘When we first met him, he was a talented White House sous chef — creative and passionate about food, and the ability to bring people together.
‘In the years that followed, we got to know her as a warm, funny, incredibly kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.’
‘That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us and he graciously agreed.
‘He’s been a part of our lives ever since, and we’re heartbroken that he’s gone.’
It is unclear if Campbell suffered any medical conditions while on board.
Staff at Edgartown Meat and Fish Market also paid tribute to the chef, who they remembered as a ‘wonderful guy’.
Tafari with his wife Sheris. The couple has 19-year-old twin sons
Campbell was named one of the best White House chefs by the Obamas
‘We saw him last week, he was a very nice and happy guy,’ a staff member told Newstimesuk.com.
‘He didn’t seem to live here but he was here a lot in the summer and autumn and bought various things.
‘He was nice and calm, so sad to hear something like this happened to him.’
The employee added Campbell has ‘been coming here for years.’
‘When he came he would talk to us about what he was cooking,’ said the worker.
‘One thing he always special ordered was juice – orange juice and strawberry lemonade.’
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