Memorial for Altobelli family who died in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash

A memorial service will be held for baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their 14-year-old daughter Alyssa who were killed with Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash.

The family were with Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant, when the helicopter crashed into a cloud-covered hillside in Calabasas, California.

Girls basketball tournament

They Altobelli family, Kobe Bryant and his daughter were with three other passengers Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, girl’s basketball coach Christina Mauser, and pilot Ara Zobayan when the crash happened.

Orange Coast Pirates coach John Altobelli was with his wife Keri accompanying his daughter Alyssa to a youth basketball tournament in which Alyssa and Gianna were to play.

“Needless to say … there will be plenty of room so if you’d like to be a part of this, we’d love to have you,” Tony said.

John, 56, was the longtime baseball coach at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa and guided the Pirates to the state championships four times. He was named National Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association in 2019.

Just two days after the crash happened his brother Tony spoke during the Orange Coast College baseball team’s pregame ceremony to honor the coach and his achievements.

John’s brother Tony Altobelli announced on Facebook that a memorial will be held on February 10 at Angel Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Angels, to honor the three, NBC Los Angeles reported.

“In days like this I wasn’t John’s brother, I was the SID at Orange Coast College doing something for my brother. That was the only way I could get through today,” Tony told NBC Washington.