Family and friends of those who died in the crash begin to openly mourn.
Matt Mauser spoke proudly of his wife Christina Mauser, who was one of the victims in the downed helicopter that took nine lives, including NBA legend, Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. “He didn’t choose Christina for just any old reason, she was extraordinary . . . she was warm, she was incredibly bright, she was incredibly technically savvy . . . she was incredibly deep.”
Mauser’s wife, who was a teacher like him, served as an assistant coach for the Mambas basketball team. “I’m scared, I think more than anything, I’m a little scared about the future,” expressed Mauser who went on to tribute his wife on the Today show.
Mauser is one of many family and friends who are grieving in the wake of the tragedy. Here’s a list of those who died in the helicopter crash on Sunday, January 26, killing pro-ball legend, Kobe Bryant and one of his daughters, Gianna.
Kobe Bryant
The 41-year-old retired Los Angeles Lakers NBA all-star lived in Newport Beach and coached the Mambas basketball club, an AAU girls teach in which his daughter Gianna played. He leaves behind his wife, Vanessa, and three daughters—Bianka, Natalia, and Capri.
Gianna Bryant
The 13-year-old from Newport Beach, affectionately nicknamed Gigi, flew with her father, Kobe, to a basketball tournament. Gigi played point guard for the Orange County-based Mambas, an elite travel basketball team. Gianna was in the eighth grade. She leaves behind her mother, Vanessa, and three sisters.
Sarah Chester
The 45-year-old Newport Beach mother of three. Took the flight with her daughter Payton, who was a teammate of Gianna.
Payton Chester
The 13-year-old, eight grader from Newport Beach who played on the Mambas, the AAU girls team coached by Kobe Bryant. Payton attended St. Margaret’s Episcopal School.
John Altobelli
The 56-year-old who lived in Newport Beach was traveling with his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa. A longtime coach, he served as Orange Coast College head coach for their baseball team for 28 seasons. There, he was known as “Coach Alto.”
Keri Altobelli
The Newport Beach mother was traveling with her husband, John, Altobelli, and daughter Alyssa. Keri and John are survived by son J.J. Altobelli, a Red Sox scout, and daughter Alexis Altobelli
Alyssa Altobelli
The Newport Beach 13-year-old was a member of the Mambas. She was an eighth grader at Ensign Intermediate.
Ara Zobayan
The Huntington Beach 50-year-old was piloting the helicopter. He often flew Bryant as a private pilot and was one of a small number of pilots who flew the elite chopper, Sikorsky S-76B that crashed in Calabasas, California.
Christina Mauser (photo)
The 38-year-old from Huntington Beach was an assistant coach at Harbor Day School, a private K-8 academy in Corona del Mar. She also served as Bryant’s top assistant coach on the Mambas. She leaves behind husband, Matt, and their three children.
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