Top Chef Masters Star Naomi Pomeroy Passes Away at 49 in Tubing Tragedy

Naomi Pomeroy, a celebrated chef and star of “Top Chef Masters”, tragically passed away in a tubing accident in Oregon over the weekend, local authorities reported. She was 49 years old.

Pomeroy drowned in the Willamette River near Corvallis, Oregon, on Saturday, July 13th. According to a statement from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), three people on inflatable tubes and a paddle board were caught on a submerged snag. Naomi Pomeroy was pulled underwater and held by the paddle board’s leash.

While the other two individuals were safely rescued, initial searches by deputies using sonar, underwater cameras, and drones did not locate Pomeroy’s body.

By Wednesday, authorities announced that Pomeroy’s body had been found approximately half a mile upstream from Hyak Park, between Corvallis and Albany. A group of canoers discovered the body and alerted 9-1-1. It was later confirmed to be Pomeroy.

Pomeroy gained widespread acclaim with her Portland restaurant, Beast, and was honored as the James Beard Best Chef in the Pacific Northwest in 2014. She also became well-known through her appearances on Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters”.

Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer expressed his condolences on Monday, calling Pomeroy not only a remarkable chef and entrepreneur but also an extraordinary person. Blumenauer praised her influence on Portland’s reputation for culinary excellence and said she would be deeply missed.