The world mourns the loss of legendary basketball player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter are survived by wife and mother Vanessa Bryant and her three other daughters with the basketball player Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and seven-month-old Capri.
Unfortunately, along with the passing of Kobe and Gianna, the world also experienced the loss of several other members of the Los Angeles community: Christina Mauser, John Altobelli along with his wife Keri and their 13-year-old daughter Alyssa, mother and daughter Sarah and Payton Chester and helicopter pilot Ara Zobayan.
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant
TMZ Sports reported that the 41-year-old and his young daughter were part of a helicopter crash on Sunday, January 26. The two, along with the seven others on board, were on their way to Kobe’s Mamba Sports Academy for a basketball practice.
Christina Mauser
The 38-year-old is survived by her three young children with husband and singer Matt Mauser. She was a basketball coach at a private school in Corona del Mar, as well as the coach for the girl’s basketball team at the Mamba Sports Academy.
John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli
Long-time baseball coach at Orange Coast College John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their 13-year-old daughter Alyssa were also confirmed to have been on the flight. They are survived by John and Keri’s two other children son J.J and daughter Alexis. Alyssa was said to be a teammate of Gianna’s at the Mamba Sports Academy.
Sarah and Payton Chester
The mother and daughter were also on board when the helicopter went down on the foggy hillside. Payton was said to be a teammate of Kobe’s daughter Gianna just like Alyssa Altobelli.
Ara Zobayan
The helicopter was reportedly piloted by Ara Zobayan. Ara was said to be very well-loved within the aviation community and also taught aspiring helicopter pilots to fly.