Naomi Pomeroy, a famous chef known for appearing in cooking shows like Top Chef Masters, has died in a horrible tubing accident. She was only 49.
The self-taught, award-winning cook, who owned renowned restaurants in Portland, Oregon, drowned in the Willamette River on Saturday, July 13.
Pomeroy was with a group of tubers who got caught on an exposed snag, her family told Portland Monthly.
The Benton County Sherriff's Office said Pomeroy was one of "three floaters on tubes and a paddle board, secured together" who were "caught on an exposed snag in the water."
Pomeroy was trapped underwater by the paddle board leash. Two others made it to shore safely.
One of those people was Pomeroy's husband, Kyle Linden Webster.
Police spent days looking for Pomeroy with sonar, underwater cameras, and drones. Her body was eventually found Wednesday morning by canoers about half a mile upstream of Hyak Park.
"People canoeing on the river spotted a body and called 9-1-1," the Benton County Sheriff's Office said in an update.
"BCSO marine deputies arrived shortly after, located a deceased female on a shallow section of bedrock near the middle of the river with about one to two feet of water," the sheriff's office said.
Pomeroy first became known for her restaurant Beast in 2007. She and her husband owned a cocktail bar, Expatriate, and Pomeroy had just opened an ice cream shop in May.
Pomeroy appeared on several cooking shows like Iron Chef and Top Chef Masters, and in 2014 she won a James Beard award.
The news of Pomeroy's death has sent a shock through Portland, where she was a fixture in the food scene.
Heather Wallberg, who owns a restaurant across the street from Expatriate, told KOIN-TV that Pomeroy "made the Portland food scene what it is today."
Chef and food critic Andrew Zimmern called Pomeroy a "great chef, an icon and a friend for many years."
Naomi Pomeroy was a great chef, an icon and a friend for many years. May her memory be a blessing to all who loved her https://t.co/XEmaf00BMb
— Andrew Zimmern (@andrewzimmern) July 15, 2024
Oregon congressman Earl Blumenauer (D) also paid tribute to Pomeroy in a statement.
"What a loss. Naomi was not just a fabulous chef and entrepreneur, but an amazing human being. Her impact went far beyond Portland, helping establish our leadership and reputation for food excellence. She will be greatly missed,” Blumenauer said.
