John Altobelli, a baseball coach for 27 years at Orange Coast College, had coached the likes of Aaron Judge and Jeff McNeil
Basketball icon Kobe Bryant died Sunday in a helicopter near Calabasas that also claimed the life of his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people who were aboard the helicopter.
Altobelli was also traveling with his daughter Alyssa — who played on a basketball team with Gianna Bryant — as well as his wife Keri. Orange Coast College confirmed their deaths. The Altobellis, like the Bryants, are now a family fractured. They leave behind a son, J.J., who is a scout for the Boston Red Sox, and another daughter, Alexis. John Altobelli was 56.
“John meant so much to not only Orange Coast College, but to baseball,” Orange Coast athletics director Jason Kehler said in a statement. “He truly personified what it means to be a baseball coach. The passion that he put into the game, but more importantly his athletes, was second to none — he treated them like family. Our deepest condolences go out to the Altobelli family during this time of tragedy.
"He took a chance on me, kept me the whole summer. Him taking that chance on me, having me on his team, got me drafted," McNeil said."He made you believe in your ability. I remember when we first got to the Cape, he said, 'You're here for a reason. You've just got to believe you can do it. If you want to steal, steal. Play your game. Do what you guys want to do. Enjoy it. Have fun with it. This is gonna be one of the best summers of your life.
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