Barack and Michelle Obama pay tribute to personal chef Tafari Campbell after he drowned while paddle boarding in the pond at Martha’s Vineyard, a $12 million home — as police continue to withhold information about his death
- Former first couple paid heartfelt tribute to Tafari Campbell, 45
- Campbell drowned just off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard on July 25
Barack and Michelle Obama have paid a touching tribute to their personal chef who drowned while paddle boarding in eight feet of water near their home in Martha’s Vineyard.
The former president shared a photo of herself and the former first lady with the tragic Tafari Campbell on Instagram, writing, “Tafari Campbell showed us what a real character looks like.
He believed that actions speak louder than words. And he used his immense gifts to bring people together, bring comfort and spread joy. I will miss him every day.’
Michelle shared a similar photo of herself posing with Campbell and Obama at the White House, writing, “I will miss my friend Tafari…the void is hard. But I vow to stay strong, keep living and honor your legacy in every way possible. Rest in peace, my brother.’
Former President Barack Obama has paid a moving tribute to his personal chef Tafari Campbell, who drowned off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard on July 25. Campbell worked as a chef at the White House before leaving the Holy Address to work for the 44th President and his wife.
Michelle Obama shared this tribute to personal chef Tafari Campbell on Instagram on Thursday
The former first lady also shared a photo of Campbell showing off some of his culinary creations while dressed in his chef’s whites
Campbell was found dead on July 25 near the Obamas’ Martha’s Vineyard home.
He had served as their personal chef at the White House and left to continue working with the couple at the end of Obama’s second term in 2016.
Martha’s Vineyard police have concluded that Campbell’s drowning was an accident.
But earlier today, DailyMail.com revealed that police are still withholding basic information about the investigation under the guise of an “ongoing investigation.”
Police have yet to reveal the identity of the only witness to the accident – an unidentified woman who was paddleboarding with Campbell at the time of his accident.
Chef Tafari Campbell’s July 23 drowning near the Obamas’ Martha’s Vineyard estate was ruled an accident, but police continue to withhold information
The state physician’s office did the autopsy on Tafari and found no trauma to the body or any other evidence that the death was suspicious
Campbell was paddleboarding with a woman, another Obama staff member, when he fell off his board and drowned in Edgartown’s Great Pond on July 23.
They also declined to say who called 911 to report his drowning.
The police are using an exception to the public records law, claiming that the release of this data could jeopardize an ongoing investigation.
But the local chapter of the First Amendment Coalition told DailyMail.com that investigators are abusing that clause.
A toxicology report showing whether Campbell had drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of the accident has yet to be released.
He previously shared videos of himself swimming on Instagram.
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