Former White House sous chefTafari Campbell’s manner of death has been ruled an accidental drowning following “submersion in a body of water,” according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Massachusetts.
Timothy McGuirk, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, toldThe Washington Postthat Massachusetts does not release autopsy results publicly. However, the chief medical examiner ruled Campbell’s death an accident.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty, The White House/YouTube
Campbell, a father of two who was a personal chef to formerPresident Barack Obamaand former first ladyMichelle Obama, died in a paddle boarding accident nearthe Obamas’ Katama estate inMartha’s Vineyardon July 23.
The chef, who was from Dumfries, Virginia, lost his balance while standing on a paddle board and fell into the water, another paddle boarder on the pond told police, reports theHerald. The other paddle boarder attempted to swim to Campbell, but could not reach him in time, per theHerald.
Chef Tafari Campbell in 2008.AP Photo/Ron Edmonds
AP Photo/Ron Edmonds
MSP later toldPEOPLEin a statement, “Mr. Campbell was visiting Martha’s Vineyard at the time of his passing. President and Mrs. Obama were not present at the residence at the time of the accident.”
The Obamasshared a tribute to Campbell, who they called “a beloved part of our family”.
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“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,” the Obamas said in ajoint statement sent to PEOPLE. “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 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.”
“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 added.
In anInstagram postshared on July 24, his wife Sherise wrote: “My heart is broken. My life and our family’s life is forever changed. Please pray for me and our families as I deal with the loss of my husband.”
In another post, Sherise — who owns a baking and catering company called Sweet Sage — said her company was putting orders on hold due to “the recent tragedy in our family.”
source: people.com
