The former United States president Barack Obama’s family is mourning after the death of their family chef Tafari Campbell. Tafari was found dead in a lake near the residence of the Obamas in the resort community of Martha’s Vineyard.
This was confirmed by Massachusetts State Police on Monday, saying that a paddle boarder who was seen getting into difficulty on the Edgartown Great Pond was the Obamas’ personal chef Tafari Campbell. He was 45, and had worked at the White House before continuing to work for the Obama family after Obama left office in 2016.
The statement from the Obama’s family mourned Tafari as a creative and passionate chef, an attribute that made them ask him to continue with them even after leaving office.
“Tafari was a beloved part of our family, he was … 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.”
“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.”
Tafari Campbell has left behind his wife, Sherise, and twin sons. He lived in Dumfries, Virginia but had been visiting Martha’s Vineyard which is a wealthy island community located off the coast of Massachusetts. On the fateful day, the Obamas were not at home. The police are investigating his death.
The authorities started searching for a missing person on Sunday after they got a report that a paddle boarder had gone underwater and not resurfaced. Police said they located Campell, who was not wearing a life jacket, about 30 metres from shore and 2.4 metres underwater using sonar.
