Tafari Campbell, a former White House cook who worked for Barack Obama, drowned and passed away close to the former president’s house.
According to NBC News, Campbell vanished while paddleboarding on Sunday night at Edgartown Great Pond, close to the Obamas’ Martha’s Vineyard home.
He was discovered on Monday morning about 100 feet off the coast in water that was eight feet deep, according to Massachusetts State Police. The Obamas weren’t at home when the accident happened, according to MSP.
In a joint statement they released on Monday in response to the news, Barack and Michelle expressed their sorrow at the passing of the “truly wonderful man.”
Additionally, the Obamas disclosed that they had requested that the “talented sous chef” continue to work for them even after they left the White House.
The declaration said, “Tafari was a cherished member of our family. He was a skilled sous chef at the White House when we first met him; he was imaginative and passionate about food and its capacity to unite people. We got to know him as a pleasant, jovial, and incredibly kind person who made all of our lives a little bit brighter during the years that followed.
Because of this, we begged Tafari to join us as we left the White House, and he graciously accepted. Since then, he has been a part of our lives, and his passing has left us inconsolable. We mourn the loss of a very lovely man today, along with everyone who knew and loved Tafari, especially his wife Sherise and their twin sons, Xavier and Savin.
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