Friends, relatives and lovers of basketball and baseball have paid tribute to a much admired coach and his family, who were among the nine people killed when Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crashed two weeks ago.
The memorial at the Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, began with a reading of the nine names of the victims of the crash, including Bryant and his daughter.
It honoured Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and teenage daughter Alyssa, who played basketball on Bryant’s youth team.
A podium erected on the field was adorned with flower bouquets, sports jerseys and photos. In one, Alyssa was shown clutching a basketball and smiling.
Pastor Erik Rees said he met John Altobelli for the first time eight years ago when Rees was grieving the loss of his 12-year-old daughter to cancer.
Altobelli, who dedicated a game to her, met Rees at third base and hugged him, Mr Rees said.
“That is one of the many things I am going to miss, is an ’Alto’ hug,” Rees told the crowd.
Altobelli, 56, won more than 700 games at Orange Coast during his more than two decades devoted to the school’s team. The American Baseball Coaches Association named him its coach of the year last year after he guided the Pirates to their fourth state title.
The coach known as “Alto” also managed the Brewster Whitecaps for three seasons in the Cape Cod Summer League. Among the players he coached there were New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and New York Mets infielder Jeff McNeil.
His daughter attended Ensign Intermediate School in Newport Beach, which retired her basketball jersey. She hoped to someday attend the University of Oregon, like her favourite basketball player, Sabrina Ionescu.
Altobelli is survived by a son, JJ, who is a scout with the Boston Red Sox, and a 16-year-old daughter, Lexi.
A public memorial for the former Lakers superstar, his daughter and other victims of the crash is scheduled for 24 February at the Staples Centre.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
