AWARD-winning chef Naomi Pomeroy has died at the age of 49.
The former Top Chef Masters contestant was confirmed by friends on Monday.
At first, the woman was unidentified as she was one of three people tubing down the Willamette River outside of Portland, Oregon.
Days later, it was confirmed that the woman was Naomi.
According to KEZI9 News, at the time of the accident, Naomi was not wearing a lifejacket when the three tied tubes hit a tree in the water, which caused Noami to go underwater and not resurface.
On Saturday night around 8:25 pm, police found Naomi’s body underwater.
It was revealed that a strong undercurrent kept her body from being found.
The other two people involved, including Naomi’s husband Kyle Linden Webster, survived.
‘SO SAD TO HEAR THIS’
On Naomi’s last Instagram post, promoting her latest cooking project titled Garden Party, fans flooded the comment section to say goodbye.
The black and white pic of a group of people enjoying a dinner was shared on July 1.
One follower wrote, “Wow i don’t know what to say. rest easy naomi. so sad to hear this. speechless.”
“A sad reminder of how fleeting life is and we need to enjoy it to its fullest. It seems she lived that way, especially lately,” stated a second.
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“Impossible to understand this. You were a light, a legend, and an inspiration. rest in peace,” exclaimed another.
A fourth person said, “We will miss you!! This is so shocking. Sending the family love.”
“Sending so much love to your family. I’m devastated hearing you have passed. You’re an genius,” someone else wrote.
A sad reminder of how fleeting life is and we need to enjoy it to its fullest.
One of Naomi’s followers
‘WHAT A LOSS.
After the tragic news was made public, Congressman Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who worked with Naomi to help independent restaurants during the pandemic, shared a statement.
He said, “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.”
MORE ABOUT NAOMI
Naomi was born in 1974 in Corvallis, Oregon, south of Portland.
The former TV personality revealed that her mom and grandmother were her biggest inspirations when it came to cooking.
In 2013, she appeared on Top Chef Masters.
In 2014, she was named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs and took home the James Beard Award for the best chef in the Pacific Northwest.
Two years later in 2016, she released her first cookbook, Taste & Technique: Recipes to Elevate Your Home Cooking.
