evidence: Obamas' chef Tafari Campbell dies in paddleboarding accident [...] Tafari Campbell, 45, worked in the White House before staying on with the Obama family after Mr Obama left office in 2016. [...] "Tafari was a beloved part of our family. When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House - creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together," Mr Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama said on Monday.