Naomi Pomeroy, the award-winning chef who helped put Portland on the food scene and appeared on “Top Chef Masters,” has drowned in an inner-tubing accident, authorities say. She was 49 years old.
Pomeroy drowned Saturday evening on the Willamette River near Corvallis after the group he was tubing with got stuck in exposed riverbed. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office In a statement, Captain Chris Duffitt said Pomeroy was pulled underwater and trapped by the leash of his paddleboard, which the group had tied together with an inner tube.
Authorities said two other people who were on shore were rescued safely and transported to a boat launch.
The sheriff’s office said they were still working to recover Pomeroy’s body, and that they had used sonar, underwater cameras and drones to search the area but had been unable to find him due to the large amount of debris.
Nicole Wilder/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
“I am committed to finding Naomi and bringing her back to her family and loved ones,” Sheriff Jeff Van Arsdal said. statement“We would like to thank all those involved in the search and recovery effort for their assistance during this difficult time.”
The sheriff’s office warned people not to hang on to paddle boards unless they have a quick-release leash and recommended not tying more than two inner tubes together because that would mean each person would need to wear a life jacket.
The Oregon Department of Marine Science and Technology said it has noticed an “emerging trend” of deaths in recent years of stand-up paddleboard (SUP) leashes getting tangled in brush and other debris in rivers.
“Most ankle leashes used by SUP users are not designed for quick release,” Brian Paulsen, the department’s boating safety program manager, said in a statement Tuesday. Quick release leashes are designed for use in flowing water and are worn around the waist, he said.
Pomeroy made a name for himself in Portland’s food scene after opening his restaurant, Beast, in 2007. The restaurant offers diners a six-course, prix-fixe dinner served at communal tables and features dishes based on Pomeroy’s specialty, whole-animal roasts.
The restaurant paved the way for Pomeroy to win the prestigious James Beard Award for best chef in the Northwest in 2014, around the time Portland was becoming a popular travel destination for its food culture, natural beauty and quirky reputation. The restaurant closed during the coronavirus pandemic, but Pomeroy had recently opened a new frozen custard shop.
Pomeroy, known for appearing on cooking shows such as “Top Chef Masters,” also owned and operated the Portland cocktail bar Expatriate with her husband, which was closed on Monday. CBS affiliate KOIN-TV Mourners were reported to have piled flowers and mementos outside the store.
Nicole Wilder/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Heather Wahlberg, who owns a restaurant across from Expatriate and has worked in the industry for more than 10 years, told KOIN-TV that Pomeroy “made the Portland food and beverage industry what it is today.” She said she reached out to Expatriate to offer any help they needed.
She said Pomeroy’s sudden death was a “reminder of how fragile life is.”
“She was a rock star chef,” Portland food blogger Gary Okazaki told the station. “When the history of Portland’s culinary scene is written, there will be one chapter dedicated to her.”
U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon issued a statement calling Pomeroy’s death a tragic loss.
“Naomi was not only an incredible chef and entrepreneur, she was an incredible person,” Blumenauer said. “Her influence reached far beyond Portland and helped establish our leadership and reputation for great food. She will be greatly missed.”
