The search for the body of award-winning Portland chef Naomi Pomeroy continued Tuesday after she drowned in a tragic tubing accident over the weekend, officials said. She was 49.
Pomeroy was tubing with two others in the Willamette River near Corvallis, Oregon, when she was suddenly pulled underwater after getting snagged. A paddleboard leash was holding her, according to an investigation by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
Pomeroy’s family confirmed to the Portland Monthly that one of the other tubers was her husband, fellow chef Kyle Linden Webster. Firefighters were able to bring Webster and the third tuber to shore safely, but were unable to recover Pomeroy’s body. Sonar, underwater cameras and drones were unsuccessful due to the heavy debris, officials said. Searches continue as the mission is evaluated daily.
“I am committed to finding Naomi and bringing her home to her family and loved ones,” Sheriff Van Arsdall said in a statement Tuesday. “I want to thank everyone involved in the search and recovery mission and their support during this difficult time.”
Pomeroy is a pioneer of culinary innovation and a pioneer in Portland’s culinary scene. She taught herself to cook before finding fame with her French-influenced restaurant Beast, which won the prestigious James Beard Award in 2014.
Prior to that, she was named Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine in 2009 and gained further popularity when she competed on “Iron Chef” in 2010 and “Top Chef Masters” in 2011. She was also a recurring judge on “Top Chef.”
“The entire Portland community is shocked that one of its biggest stars has tragically ended a vibrant life,” wrote food critic Karen Brooks in Portland Monthly.
Pomeroy had recently opened a frozen custard shop, Cornet Custard, which offers uniquely flavored balls of thick egg custard in beeswax-covered cake cones. She was also preparing to open a new restaurant next door, with fellow restaurateur Luke Dirks.
“I was always inspired by her extreme creativity and dedication to her craft. She was always ahead of the curve and stood strong for everything she believed in about the right way to feed people well and support her culinary community,” fellow chef and TV personality Amanda Freitag said in a tribute on X.
Chefs Dominique Crenn and Gavin Kaysen also posted tributes, remembering Pomeroy as a “beautiful soul.”
When Pomeroy was named one of Oprah’s 10 Women on the Rise in 2010, she told the magazine that she wanted to be remembered “as someone who made the idea of knowing where our food comes from an everyday phenomenon.”
In a statement Monday, Congressman Earl Blumenauer mourned the loss: “Naomi was not only a fantastic chef and entrepreneur, but also a wonderful human being. Her impact extended far beyond Portland, helping to establish our leadership and reputation for food excellence. She will be deeply missed.”