Beloved Portland Chef Naomi Pomeroy Has Died at Age 49: Update

James Beard award-winning chef and cookbook author Naomi Pomeroy has died at age 49, according to multiple reports.

Pomeroy’s family confirmed the death to Portland Monthly, which reported that Pomeroy drowned after being involved in an inner tubing accident over the weekend. Her husband, Kyle Linden Webster, and an unnamed third person were also on the float, but both survived, according to The Oregonian. KEZI reports that the accident occurred after the inner tubes, which were tied together, snagged while floating down the Willamette River on the evening of July 13.

“Both yesterday and today, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office had staff ... both Marine Patrol Deputies and Search and Rescue personnel, on the water, continuing the effort to recover the victim. Debris in river, currents, and ragged rocks, make it unsafe for divers to conduct any exploratory search under water. We will continue our efforts to recover the victim, to bring [closure] to the family and the community,” sheriff Jef Van Arsdall told Eater over email.

On July 17, the Benton County Oregon Sheriff’s Office released a statement on Facebook that said Pomeroy’s body had been recovered that morning after it was spotted by canoers, who then called 911. The body has since been identified as Pomeroy’s, and her family has been notified of its recovery.

Pomeroy was beloved in the Portland area for her innovative cooking at restaurants like Beast, which later transformed into Ripe Cooperative. Recently, she opened a permanent location for her custard shop, Cornet Custard, and was at work on a restaurant in the former Woodsman Tavern space. She was also well-known for her run on Top Chef Masters, and, early in her career, widely recognized as a new chef to watch by publications like Food & Wine and Oprah. In 2014, she was the recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef Pacific Northwest after being nominated three times before. This summer, Pomeroy was slated to host a dinner series called Garden Party with restaurateur Luke Dirks.

According to Portland Monthly, Pomeroy’s family has asked for privacy and has not announced plans for a memorial. This story is developing.

Update: July 15, 2024, 5:15 p.m. PST: This story has been updated to include comment from Benton County Oregon sheriff Jef Van Arsdall.

Update: July 22, 2024, 3:15 p.m. PST: This story has been updated to include new information about the recovery of Pomeroy’s body.