Naomi Pomeroy, renowned chef and ‘Top Chef Masters’ star, dead at 49 in tubing accident
ArchiveFirst published July 21, 2024. It may not reflect later developments.
Naomi Pomeroy, renowned from “Top Chef,” tragically drowned in the Willamette River. On July 17, her body was discovered after she had been missing since July 13. Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) confirmed her body was found “about a half mile upstream of Hyak Park between Corvallis and Albany.”
Pomeroy and her husband, Kyle Linden Webster, were inner tubing when their flotilla capsized. Pomeroy was held underwater by a paddleboard leash. Webster survived, but Pomeroy did not. Despite extensive search efforts using underwater cameras, drones, and sonar, her body was found days later by canoeists.
Pomeroy was an acclaimed chef, winning the James Beard Award in 2014. She owned the renowned Portland restaurant Beast, later transforming it into Ripe Cooperative. She also co-founded Cornet Custard and was planning a new French restaurant.
Portland Congressman Earl Blumenauer honored her, saying, “What a loss. Naomi was not just a fabulous chef and entrepreneur, but an amazing human being.” The “Top Chef” official account also expressed condolences: “Naomi was a powerhouse chef.”
