Naomi Pomeroy Death: On a seemingly joyful Saturday evening, a river outing near Corvallis, Oregon, turned profoundly tragic. The family of Naomi Pomeroy confirmed that the esteemed chef is feared drowned in the Willamette River. Her body has not yet been recovered, and the community is grappling with the sudden loss.
Details of the Incident
Pomeroy, 49, was enjoying an inner tubing excursion with her husband, Kyle Linden Webster, co-owner of the esteemed restaurants Expatriate and Yaowarat. The couple’s flotilla flipped over in murky, fast-moving currents after hitting a snag. Webster managed to reach the shore despite the dangerous conditions, but Pomeroy was swept away. Search and rescue teams were quickly dispatched, but the efforts to locate her have been unsuccessful so far.
A Pillar of Portland’s Food Scene
Naomi Pomeroy’s name is synonymous with Portland’s independent food scene. Starting as an unschooled chef who made her first recipe at age four, Pomeroy went on to redefine the modern Portland restaurant with Beast, her groundbreaking fine-dining destination. Beast was a room where the essence of Portland thrummed: scrappy but chic, full of wit and ironic humor, backed by a local ethos, and extravagant comfort. In 2014, Pomeroy won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific, solidifying her status as a culinary icon.
Adapting and Innovating
In 2020, Pomeroy transformed Beast into a market and all-day bistro called Ripe Cooperative, reclaiming the name of her legendary 2002 supper club. Recently, she co-founded Cornet Custard with longtime collaborator Mika Paredes, an ice cream shop that stood a cut above, as was her perpetual standard. Pomeroy was also laying the groundwork to open an ambitious French restaurant in the former Woodsman Tavern on SE Division.
A Community in Mourning
The larger Portland community is in shock that one of its brightest stars has met such a sudden and tragic end. Pomeroy’s influence extended far beyond her restaurants; she was a beacon of creativity and resilience. The outpouring of grief and tributes reflects her impact on the local and national culinary scenes.
Personal Connections and Shared Loss
The announcement of Pomeroy’s passing resonates deeply with those who knew her personally. “We did some events together over the years, but our real connection was that we both tragically lost our brothers,” a close acquaintance shared. “I am so sorry that this wonderful human and extremely talented chef is no longer with us. RIP Naomi, and may you have a glass with our brothers.”
