According to the Massachusetts State Police (MSP), the body of the missing paddleboarder found in a pond on Martha's Vineyard early on Monday morning belonged to a former Obama family chef.
At Edgartown Great Pond, divers from the MSP Underwater Recovery Unit found Tafari Campbell, 45, dead.
"Our family loved having Tafari around. In a statement, President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama said that when they first met him, he was a skilled sous chef at the White House who was "creative and passionate about food and its ability to bring people together." We got to know him as a warm, jovial, incredibly kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter in the years that followed.
In a statement, the Obamas said that Campbell "generously agreed" to their request that he continue working with them after they left the White House.
Since then, he has been a part of our lives, and his passing has left us heartbroken. We mourn the loss of a truly wonderful man today along with everyone who knew and loved Tafari, especially his wife Sherise and their twin sons, Xavier and Savin.
According to police, Campbell was on vacation in Martha's Vineyard when he passed away. According to MSP, the Obamas weren't home at the time of the incident.
Massachusetts Environmental Police officers reportedly found the victim's body. According to state police, the victim's body was found about 100 feet from the shore and 8 feet underwater by the underwater recovery unit.
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The paddleboarder vanished in the pond on Sunday, but after several hours of searching, authorities called off the search to "allow dive teams, flight crews, and other responders to re-equip and assess next steps," according to MSP.
For the benefit of the Cape and Islands District and the Edgartown Police, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit is looking into the incident.
At Edgartown Great Pond, divers from the MSP Underwater Recovery Unit found Tafari Campbell, 45, dead.
"Our family loved having Tafari around. In a statement, President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama said that when they first met him, he was a skilled sous chef at the White House who was "creative and passionate about food and its ability to bring people together." We got to know him as a warm, jovial, incredibly kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter in the years that followed.
In a statement, the Obamas said that Campbell "generously agreed" to their request that he continue working with them after they left the White House.
Since then, he has been a part of our lives, and his passing has left us heartbroken. We mourn the loss of a truly wonderful man today along with everyone who knew and loved Tafari, especially his wife Sherise and their twin sons, Xavier and Savin.
According to police, Campbell was on vacation in Martha's Vineyard when he passed away. According to MSP, the Obamas weren't home at the time of the incident.
Massachusetts Environmental Police officers reportedly found the victim's body. According to state police, the victim's body was found about 100 feet from the shore and 8 feet underwater by the underwater recovery unit.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM WAYNEDUPREE.COM
The paddleboarder vanished in the pond on Sunday, but after several hours of searching, authorities called off the search to "allow dive teams, flight crews, and other responders to re-equip and assess next steps," according to MSP.
For the benefit of the Cape and Islands District and the Edgartown Police, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit is looking into the incident.
