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The 9 Victims of the Helicopter Crash That Killed Kobe Bryant The 9 Victims of the Helicopter Crash That Killed Kobe Bryant
(about 5 hours later)
When a helicopter crashed in the foggy hills of Southern California on Sunday with the basketball star Kobe Bryant on board, the tragedy inspired fans across the country to pay tribute. After a helicopter crashed this weekend with the basketball star Kobe Bryant on board, fans across the country paid tribute, building a shrine of flowers outside Staples Center in Los Angeles, where he became a star, and carrying jerseys and basketballs to his high school near Philadelphia, where it all began.
They flocked toward the smoldering crash site, near Calabasas, Calif., wearing Lakers gear and with basketballs in hand. They built a shrine of candles and flowers outside Staples Center in Los Angeles, and they brought jerseys to lay outside the gymnasium named for Mr. Bryant at his high school outside Philadelphia. At the same time, a quieter kind of grief played out in homes and schools across Southern California, as the details of the crash became public. Nine people aboard the helicopter were killed when it crashed in the foggy hills near Calabasas, Calif., while en route to a youth basketball tournament.
But as the details of the crash became public — including the news that nine people on board had died — communities in Southern California began grieving in quieter ways for all of the lives that had also been cut short by the crash. The victims included Mr. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter and two of her teammates, as well as parents who were traveling to cheer for the team. A coach whom Mr. Bryant called the “Mother of Defense” also died, as did the pilot, who had years of flight experience.
The authorities have not publicly identified the victims, but family and friends shared their grief in public announcements and posts on social media. The victims included a baseball coach, a pilot, and teenage girls and their parents. Here are their stories.
Amid grief for one of the world’s best-known athletes, loved ones urged the world to remember the other lives that were “just as important.”
Kobe and Gianna BryantKobe and Gianna Bryant
Mr. Bryant, the retired Los Angeles Lakers basketball star, died in the helicopter crash, along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. The helicopter was on its way from Orange County, Calif., where the Bryant family lives, to Mr. Bryant’s youth basketball academy northwest of Los Angeles. As an N.B.A. star who spent 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Mr. Bryant gave himself the nickname “Black Mamba.” As his daughter’s youth basketball career took off, he called her “Mambacita.”
Mr. Bryant, 41, retired in 2016 with five N.B.A. championship rings. He gave himself the nickname the Black Mamba, and was known for taking helicopter rides to games at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles to avoid traffic and maximize time at home. On Sunday, father and daughter were on their way to a youth basketball tournament at Mr. Bryant’s academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif., northwest of Los Angeles when the helicopter went down.
On Sunday, Mr. Bryant was on his way to his academy to coach Gianna, the second-oldest of his four daughters with his wife, Vanessa. The news of their deaths spurred widespread grief, from current and former world leaders to the eighth graders at the Harbor Day School in Newport Beach, Calif., where Gianna was a student.
Gianna, who went by the nickname “Gigi,” was a budding basketball star in her own right and was “hellbent” on playing for the University of Connecticut, and one day, in the W.N.B.A., her father told The Los Angeles Times last year. Mr. Bryant, 41, retired in 2016 with five N.B.A. championship rings and more recently had been spending much of his time coaching his daughter and other young players. Gianna, who went by Gigi, was the second-oldest of Mr. Bryant’s four daughters with his wife, Vanessa.
The Huskies basketball program paid tribute on Twitter on Sunday with a photo of father and daughter, wearing what appeared to be matching UConn shirts: “They are deeply missed.” A budding basketball star in her own right, Gianna was “hellbent” on playing for the University of Connecticut, and one day, in the W.N.B.A., her father told The Los Angeles Times last year. Mr. Bryant’s company applied to trademark the “Mambacita” name in December.
“She looked out for the underdog and never left anyone out,” her school said in a statement. “Gianna was a strong leader, had a work ethic that was unmatched, and had a level of maturity beyond her 13 years.”
Mr. Bryant and his daughter sat courtside at a UConn game last year, wearing what looked to be matching Huskies shirts. In an interview with SNY, Mr. Bryant said he did not miss playing as much as he had expected.
“I watch the game through my daughter’s eyes,” he said.
John, Keri and Alyssa AltobelliJohn, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli
John Altobelli spent his days on the baseball diamond. As head coach of the Orange Coast College Pirates, a junior college baseball team in Costa Mesa, Calif., he often arrived at the field as early as 6:30 a.m., hours before an afternoon game. In recent weeks, he had been working six days a week to get ready for opening day. As head coach of the Orange Coast College Pirates, a junior college baseball team in Costa Mesa, Calif., John Altobelli often arrived at the field as early as 6:30 a.m., hours before afternoon games. In recent weeks, he had been working six days a week to get ready for opening day.
But on Sunday, with just two days to go before the season opener, there was somewhere else Mr. Altobelli wanted to be: the basketball gym.But on Sunday, with just two days to go before the season opener, there was somewhere else Mr. Altobelli wanted to be: the basketball gym.
His daughter, Alyssa, was scheduled to play in a youth tournament in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Mr. Altobelli didn’t want to miss it. To avoid an 80-mile drive in traffic, the family hitched a helicopter ride with Mr. Bryant, a coach and fellow parent who had become a friend. His daughter, Alyssa, was scheduled to play in the youth tournament on Mr. Bryant’s team, the Mambas, and Mr. Altobelli didn’t want to miss it. To avoid an 80-mile drive in traffic, the family hitched a helicopter ride with Mr. Bryant, a coach and fellow parent who had become a friend.
“I don’t know how you’d say what he was more committed to, the game or his family,” said Tim Matz, a friend and pitching coach at Orange Coast College. “I don’t know how you’d say what he was more committed to, the game or his family,” Tim Matz, a friend and pitching coach at Orange Coast College, said of Mr. Altobelli.
Mr. Altobelli, 56, died in the crash, along with his wife, Keri, and daughter Alyssa, the college confirmed in a statement. Mr. Altobelli, 56, died in the crash, along with his wife, Keri, and his youngest daughter, Alyssa, the college confirmed in a statement.
Mr. Matz had just finished golfing at Palm Springs when he got a call about the crash. “Oh my God,” he thought. He knew his friend, who was known as “Alto,” had planned to be on board. Mr. Matz had just finished golfing in Palm Springs when he got a call about the crash. “Oh my God,” he thought. He knew his friend, who was known as “Alto,” had planned to be on board.
“I called Alto right away, and it went straight to voice mail,” said Mr. Matz, 66, who began calling friends and family members until he reached Mr. Altobelli’s adult son, J.J.“I called Alto right away, and it went straight to voice mail,” said Mr. Matz, 66, who began calling friends and family members until he reached Mr. Altobelli’s adult son, J.J.
“He was just distraught,” Mr. Matz recalled. “He had just heard the news. I just said to him, ‘Please tell me Dad wasn’t on the helicopter.’ He said, ‘He was. So was Mom, and Alyssa.’” “He was just distraught,” Mr. Matz recalled. “He had just heard the news.”
Mr. Altobelli, who had been the head coach at the college for going on 28 seasons, “had a very uncanny ability to make you feel like family,” Mr. Matz said. Keri Altobelli had recently taken over a family business, and Alyssa was making her own way, the basketball player in a family full of baseball fans. She dreamed of attending the University of Oregon, Mr. Matz said. Mr. Altobelli, who was preparing for his 28th season as the head coach of the Pirates, “had a very uncanny ability to make you feel like family,” Mr. Matz said. Keri Altobelli had recently taken over a family business, and Alyssa was making her own way as a basketball player in a family of baseball fans. She dreamed of attending the University of Oregon, Mr. Matz said.
The crash fractured and devastated the tightknit family, which included J.J., a former college baseball player who is now a scout for the Boston Red Sox, and a daughter, Lexi, who is in high school. The crash devastated his family, which includes J.J., a former college baseball player who is now a scout for the Boston Red Sox, and a daughter, Lexi, who is in high school.
Their deaths also crushed Mr. Altobelli’s larger baseball family, including many players who gathered at the field upon hearing the news and decided that they should play the season opener, as scheduled, on Tuesday. Their deaths also shook Mr. Altobelli’s larger baseball family, including players who gathered on the field at Orange Coast College upon hearing the news and decided to play the season opener, as scheduled, on Tuesday.
Mr. Altobelli had lived his life on the baseball diamond, and they would too. “Alto would want us out there,” Mr. Matz said. Mr. Altobelli had lived his life on the baseball diamond, and they would, too.
Sarah and Payton ChesterSarah and Payton Chester
Sarah and Payton Chester, a mother and daughter who lived in Orange County, also died in the crash, family and friends said.Sarah and Payton Chester, a mother and daughter who lived in Orange County, also died in the crash, family and friends said.
Andy George, a brother of Sarah Chester, told The San Gabriel Valley Tribune that his 13-year-old niece Payton had played for Mr. Bryant’s team for several years and had planned to develop her game in high school and college. Payton, 13, had played for Mr. Bryant’s team for several years and had planned to develop her game in high school and college, her uncle Andy George told The San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “She had this sweetest soul, the kindest, most gentlest person you would ever meet,” he said.
“She had this sweetest soul, the kindest most gentlest person you would ever meet,” Mr. George told the paper. “She always had a huge smile on her face. Every time we would see her, she would spend all her time with my little daughters.” Her mother, Sarah Chester, 45, also had two 16-year-old boys, Mr. George told the newspaper. “She was everything to her family, to our family,” he said. “Anytime I needed anything, she was the person I went to.”
Sarah Chester, 45, also had two 16-year-old boys, Mr. George told The Tribune. “She was everything to her family, to our family,” he said. “Anytime I needed anything, she was the person I went to.” One of her sons wrote on Instagram that he had lost “the most amazing Mother and sister.” He posted a series of photographs, including one that showed his sister at a basketball gym, smiling and laughing with Mr. Bryant.
One of her sons wrote on Instagram that he had lost “the most amazing Mother and sister." He posted a series of photographs, including one that showed his sister at a basketball gym, smiling and laughing with Mr. Bryant. Todd Schmidt, a former principal of the elementary school that Payton had attended in Newport Beach, Calif., said the Chesters were among the “amazing families” at the school: “engaged, supportive, encouraging, and full of mischief and laughter.”
Todd Schmidt, the former principal of the elementary school that Payton had attended in Corona del Mar, Calif., said the Chesters were among the “amazing families” at the school: “engaged, supportive, encouraging, and full of mischief and laughter.”
“While the world mourns the loss of a dynamic athlete and humanitarian, I mourn the loss of two people just as important,” he wrote. “Their impact was just as meaningful, their loss will be just as keenly felt, and our hearts are just as broken.”“While the world mourns the loss of a dynamic athlete and humanitarian, I mourn the loss of two people just as important,” he wrote. “Their impact was just as meaningful, their loss will be just as keenly felt, and our hearts are just as broken.”
Christina MauserChristina Mauser
Christina Mauser had been a basketball coach and physical education teacher at Harbor Day School in Corona del Mar, Calif., and had coached Gianna Bryant to a school championship in the fall of 2017. As a defensive specialist for the Mambas, Mr. Bryant’s club team, Christina Mauser had flown in a helicopter with him many times before.
Her husband, Matthew Mauser, who was also a coach of that team, confirmed her death. Things were no different on Sunday when she joined Mr. Bryant and Gianna en route to a game, her husband, Matthew Mauser, said in an interview.
“She was incredibly witty — funny like nobody you’ve ever met,” Mr. Mauser, who used to teach at the school and is a singer in a band, said on the “Today” show early on Monday. Ms. Mauser, 38, had a long history with the Bryant family: She worked at Harbor Day School, where Gianna was a student, for about 11 years as a physical education teacher and basketball coach. Then Mr. Bryant offered her a job as an assistant coach for the Mambas.
He said Mr. Bryant had hired Ms. Mauser to coach for a basketball team at his Mamba Academy and called her the “Mother of Defense” because she was so good at teaching zone defense to the eighth-grade players. Mr. Bryant called her the “Mother of Defense” because she was so good at teaching the zone strategy to the eighth-grade players, her husband said.
Mr. Mauser said he had cuddled in bed with his children as they grieved, and that his 11-year-old daughter had said it was comforting to know that other people were mourning as well. “She just was really good with the girls,” Mr. Mauser said. “She was warm but also gritty.”
“We watched SportsCenter for two seconds and everything was about how much everybody was mourning and hurting, and she said it was nice to know that everybody was hurting along with us,” he said. “And I know that sounds odd, but it still kind of helps.” He said he had been grieving with the couple’s two daughters, who are 3 and 11, and their son, who is 9. “They’re doing as well as can be expected, but they’re hurting,” he said in an interview. “They miss their mom.”
The Mausers coached the Harbor Day School eighth grade girls’ basketball team when it won its first championship in the fall of 2017, according to Beacon, a biannual magazine run by the school. Gianna Bryant was one of two sixth graders on the team who were playing at a level two years ahead of their class, according to the publication. In an interview on the “Today” show early Monday, Mr. Mauser said that he had cuddled in bed with his children as they grieved, and that his older daughter had been comforted by what she saw on television.
Ms. Mauser had served as a coach, physical education teacher and eighth grade adviser for 11 years at the school, according to an announcement in the Summer 2018 edition of Beacon that said she and her husband were leaving the school. “We watched ‘SportsCenter’ for two seconds and everything was about how much everybody was mourning and hurting, and she said it was nice to know that everybody was hurting along with us,” he said. “And I know that sounds odd, but it still kind of helps.”
“She added so much to our team,” Pamela Coleman, the physical education department chair, wrote at the time. “She was an exceptional teacher — organized, hardworking, conscientious, energetic, and imaginative.”
Ara ZobayanAra Zobayan
Ara Zobayan, a pilot, was also among those who died in the crash, according to friends and colleagues. A sightseeing flight over the Grand Canyon was all it took to get Ara Zobayan hooked on flying. He signed up as a student at Group 3 Aviation, a helicopter pilot school in Van Nuys, Calif., eager to learn to fly, the school said in a statement on Monday.
Mr. Zobayan, of Huntington Beach, Calif., was a commercial helicopter pilot and certified flight instructor, according to Federal Aviation Administration records. He had been flying aircraft in Southern California for 20 years, records showed. He worked as a helicopter instructor for Group 3 Aviation in Van Nuys, and the company has posted photos of numerous students he has trained to fly helicopters over the years. That was more than 20 years ago. Mr. Zobayan, of Huntington Beach, had been flying aircraft in Southern California ever since, even teaching others as a certified flight instructor, according to Federal Aviation Administration records.
One of Mr. Zobayan’s flight students, Darren Kemp, told The Los Angeles Times that his teacher had been Mr. Bryant’s private pilot. “He doesn’t let anyone else fly him around but Ara,” he said.One of Mr. Zobayan’s flight students, Darren Kemp, told The Los Angeles Times that his teacher had been Mr. Bryant’s private pilot. “He doesn’t let anyone else fly him around but Ara,” he said.
On Facebook, a friend, Jared Yochim, described Mr. Zobayan as “an incredible pilot” and a “truly a great man.” On Instagram, Kylie Jenner said she had also traveled on helicopters flown by Mr. Zobayan. “He was such a nice man,” she wrote.
“He was not your typical egotistical helicopter pilot like most of us,” wrote Mr. Yochim, who is also a pilot. “Ara was a man that always remained cool, calm and collected.” Claudia Lowry, who owns Group 3 Aviation along with her husband, Peter, spent part of Monday afternoon arranging photos of Mr. Zobayan at the school’s reception desk at the Van Nuys airport.
He shared a photo from a mutual friend’s birthday celebration, showing a group of men, their arms around one another, with Mr. Zobayan smiling and dressed up in a collared shirt and tie. In a post on the company’s Facebook page, the couple described themselves as “heartbroken” at the loss of their friend.
“Who ever would’ve thought,” Mr. Yochim wrote, “that would be our final beer together.” “Flying was his life’s passion,” they wrote.
Dave Phillips contributed reporting. Dave Phillips and Alan Blinder contributed reporting.