AWARD-winning chef Naomi Pomeroy has died aged 49.
The former Top Chef Masters contestant was confirmed by friends on Monday.
At first, the woman was not identified as she was one of three people walking down the Willamette River outside Portland, Oregon.
Days later, it was confirmed that the woman was Naomi.
According to KEZI9 NewsAt the time of the accident, Naomi was not wearing a life jacket when the three attached tubes hit a tree in the water, which caused Noami to submerge and not return to the surface.
On Saturday night, at around 8:25 pm, police found Naomi’s body underwater.
It was revealed that a strong undercurrent prevented his 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 latest Instagram post, promoting her latest cooking project titled Garden Party, fans flooded the comments section to say goodbye.
O black and white photo of a group of people enjoying dinner was shared on July 1st.
One follower wrote: “Wow, I don’t know what to say. Don’t worry, Naomi.
“A sad reminder of how fleeting life is and we need to make the most of it. It seems like she’s been living like this, especially lately,” said a second.
“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 love to the family.”
“Sending so much love to your family. I’m devastated to hear you passed away. You’re a genius,” someone else wrote.
A sad reminder of how fleeting life is and we need to make the most of it.
One of Naomi’s followers Instagram
‘WHAT A LOSS.
After the tragic news broke, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who worked with Naomi to help independent restaurants during the pandemic, shared a statement.
He said: “What a loss.
“Naomi was not only a fabulous chef and entrepreneur, but an incredible human being.
“His impact has reached far beyond Portland, helping to establish our leadership and reputation for food excellence.
“She will be greatly missed.”
MORE ABOUT NOEMI
Naomi was born in 1974 in Corvallis, Oregon, south of Portland.
The former TV personality revealed that her mother 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 Best Chef in the Pacific Northwest.
Two years later, in 2016, she released her first cookbook, Taste & Technique: Recipes to Elevate Your Home Cooking.
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