Tafari Campbell was a former White House sous chef who later became the personal chef of Barack Obama and his family. He died at the age of 45 in a paddle boarding accident near the Obamas’ home on Martha’s Vineyard on July 24, 2023.
He was remembered by the former president and first lady as a “warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person” who made their lives “a little brighter”. Here is everything you need to know about Tafari Campbell, his life, career, and tragic death.
Tafari Campbell BIO/Wiki
| Real Name | Tafari Campbell |
| Known As | Barack Obama’s Chef |
| In News | Died by drowning |
| Birth Date | 1978 |
| Birth Place | Dumfries, Virginia, United States |
| Gender | Male |
| Nationality | American |
| Race | Black |
| Died on | July 24, 2023 |
| Died At | 45 years old (as of 2023) |
| Cause of Death | Drowned |
| Parents | Father: Mr. Campbell Mother: Mrs. Campbell |
| Wife | Sherise Campbell |
| Kids | Savin Campbell Xavier Campbell |
| Weight | Kg: 75.4 Pounds: 166.2 lbs |
| Height | In feet: 5’ 10″ In centimeters: 177.8 cm In meters: 1.778 m |
| Eyes | Brown |
| Hair | Black |
| Worked As | Sous Chef |
| Worked At | The White House |
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| Homepage | Dreshare.com |
Early Life, Age & Biography
Tafari Campbell was born in 1978 in Dumfries, Virginia, to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. He had a passion for cooking since he was a child and often cooked for his family gatherings. He went to culinary school in Virginia and owned his own restaurant before applying for a job at the White House.
Parents & Siblings
Unfortunately, there is not much information available about Tafari Campbell’s parents and siblings. According to some sources, he was born in 1978 in Dumfries, Virginia, to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. He had a passion for cooking since he was a child and often cooked for his family gatherings. However, the names and professions of his parents are not mentioned, and it is not clear if he had any brothers or sisters.
Some other sources also state that there were no public reports or information available regarding Tafari Campbell’s siblings and that it is important to respect the privacy of individuals and their families during difficult times. Therefore, the details of Tafari Campbell’s family background may remain private and undisclosed to the public.
Professional Career
He was hired as a sous chef at the White House during the presidency of George W. Bush and continued to work there when Barack Obama took office in 2009. He was one of the four cooks who were asked to stay on by the Obamas. He worked under Cristeta Comerford, the first woman, and first Asian White House executive chef.
He was also involved in creating the White House Honey Brown Ale, the first beer ever brewed on White House property, using honey from Michelle Obama’s South Lawn beehive. He was featured in a White House YouTube video from 2013 where he can be seen brewing the ale with assistant chef Sam Kass.
He was creative and passionate about food and its ability to bring people together. He impressed the Obamas with his culinary skills and personality so much that they asked him to stay with them as their personal chef after they left the White House in 2016. He became a part of their family and traveled with them to their various residences.
Wife & Kids
He was married to Sherise Campbell, who owns a baking and catering company called Sweet Sage. They had twin sons, Savin and Xavier, who were born in 2010. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them.
He was also active on social media, where he shared his culinary creations and personal photos with his followers. He had accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
Tafari Campbell Death
Tafari Campbell died on July 24, 2023, in a paddle boarding accident near the Obamas’ home on Martha’s Vineyard, a wealthy island community off the coast of Massachusetts. He was 45 years old.
According to Massachusetts State Police, he was reported missing after he went underwater and did not resurface while paddle boarding on the Edgartown Great Pond. He was not wearing a life jacket. The authorities located him about 30 meters from shore and 2.4 meters underwater using sonar. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Obamas were not present at the time of the incident, but they issued a joint statement on Monday expressing their grief and condolences to his wife and sons.
“Today we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari — especially his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin — in grieving the loss of a truly wonderful man,” they said.
“When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House — creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together. In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.”
“That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone.”
The cause of his death is being investigated by the authorities. His funeral arrangements have not been announced yet.
12 Facts About Tafari Campbell
- Tafari Campbell was born in 1978 in Dumfries, Virginia, to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell.
- He went to culinary school in Virginia and owned his own restaurant before applying for a job at the White House.
- Tafari was hired as a sous chef at the White House during the presidency of George W. Bush and continued to work there when Barack Obama took office in 2009.
- He was one of the four cooks who were asked to stay on by the Obamas and became their personal chef after they left the White House in 2016.
- Campbell was involved in creating the White House Honey Brown Ale, the first beer ever brewed on White House property, using honey from Michelle Obama’s South Lawn beehive.
- He was creative and passionate about food and its ability to bring people together. He impressed the Obamas with his culinary skills and personality so much that they considered him a part of their family.
- Tafari was married to Sherise Campbell, who owns a baking and catering company called Sweet Sage. They had twin sons, Savin and Xavier, who were born in 2010.
- He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He also liked traveling, fishing, and playing golf.
- Tafari was active on social media, where he shared his culinary creations and personal photos with his followers. He had accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
- He died on July 24, 2023, in a paddle-boarding accident near the Obamas’ home on Martha’s Vineyard. He was 45 years old.
- Tafari was not wearing a life jacket when he went underwater and did not resurface while paddle boarding on the Edgartown Great Pond. The authorities located him about 30 meters from shore and 2.4 meters underwater using sonar. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
- The Obamas issued a joint statement on Monday expressing their grief and condolences to his wife and sons. They said he was a “warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person” who made their lives “a little brighter”.
FAQs
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Who was Tafari Campbell?
Campbell was a former White House sous chef who later became the personal chef of Barack Obama and his family.
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How did Tafari Campbell die?
Tafari died on July 24, 2023, in a paddle-boarding accident near the Obamas’ home on Martha’s Vineyard. He was not wearing a life jacket when he went underwater and did not resurface.
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How old was Tafari Campbell when he died?
Campbell was 45 years old when he died.
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Who is Tafari Campbell’s wife?
Campbell’s wife is Sherise Campbell, who owns a baking and catering company called Sweet Sage.
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How many children did Tafari Campbell have?
Tafari had twin sons, Savin and Xavier, who were born in 2010.
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What did Tafari Campbell do for the Obamas?
Tafari worked as a sous chef at the White House during the presidency of Barack Obama and continued to work for them as their personal chef after they left the White House in 2016. He was also involved in creating the White House Honey Brown Ale, the first beer ever brewed on White House property.
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