Award-winning chef Naomi Pomeroy from Oregon drowns in river accident

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Naomi Pomeroy, an award-winning chef who put Portland on the map as a culinary destination, drowned in a rafting accident, authorities said. She was 49.

Pomeroy drowned in the Willamette River near Corvallis on Saturday night after the group she was rafting with became stuck on an exposed obstruction in the water, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Pomeroy was pulled underwater and held by a paddleboard leash attached to her, Capt. Chris Duffitt said. The group had tied their rafts and paddleboard together.

Authorities said they recovered the other two people safely on shore and took them to a boat ramp.

The sheriff’s office said it was still working to recover Pomeroy’s body. It searched the area with sonar, underwater cameras and drones, but was unable to locate the body due to heavy debris.

“I am determined to find Naomi and bring her home to her family and loved ones,” Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall said in a statement. “I want to thank everyone involved in the search and recovery mission and who supported us during this difficult time.”

The sheriff’s office warned people not to tie themselves to a paddleboard unless it has a quick-release leash and advised against tying two or more tubes together because doing so would require each person to wear a life jacket.

The Oregon State Marine Board noted that there has been a “new trend” in recent years of people dying because the leash of their stand up paddle board (SUP) became entangled in brush or other debris in rivers.

“Most ankle leashes used by SUP users are not designed for quick release,” Brian Paulsen, the agency’s boating safety program manager, said in a statement Tuesday. He said quick-release leashes designed for moving water are worn around the waist.

Pomeroy rose to prominence in Portland’s dining scene after opening Beast in 2007, a restaurant that offered diners a six-course, prix fixe meal served at communal tables based on Pomeroy’s penchant for butchering whole animals.

The restaurant paved the way for Pomeroy to win the coveted James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northwest in 2014, around the time Portland was gaining popularity as a destination for its food scene, natural beauty and offbeat reputation. The restaurant closed during the coronavirus pandemic, but Pomeroy had just opened a new frozen custard shop.

Pomeroy was also known for her appearances on cooking shows such as Top Chef Masters and owned Portland cocktail bar Expatriate with her husband. The bar was closed Monday, KOIN reported, while mourners left flowers and mementos outside the business.

Heather Wallberg, who owns a restaurant across the street from Expatriate and has worked in the industry for over a decade, told KOIN that Pomeroy “made the Portland dining scene what it is today.” She said she reached out to Expatriate to offer any help they needed.

Pomeroy’s sudden death “reminds one of the fragility of life,” she said.

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon issued a statement calling Pomeroy’s death a tragic loss.

“Naomi was not only a great chef and entrepreneur, but also an amazing human being,” Blumenauer said. “Her influence extended far beyond Portland and helped establish our leadership and reputation for excellent cuisine. She will be greatly missed.”