The 'House That Alto Built' Remembers Coach At OCC Season Opener

COSTA MESA, CA — The Orange Coast College baseball team, college and fans celebrated the life and memory of former coach John "Alto" Altobelli in an emotional season opener Tuesday. Altobelli was killed in Sunday's helicopter crash along with his wife and daughter, basketball legend Kobe Bryant and five others.

Orange Coast College was more than a place where Altobelli worked. It was Coach "Alto's" world, according to those who knew him best.

The stadium will be remembered as "The House that Alto Built."

During his three decades in the dugout, Altobelli led his Pirates to victories including the state title at the end of 2019. His excitement of the coming 2020 season was palpable to his team, his fellow coaches, and his family who gathered to honor his memory.

In honor of their coach, all wore Altobelli's number 14 on their jerseys, the front, emblazoned with #FOREVERAPIRATE. They stood for a 14 second moment of silence prior to the game.

"Opening day was his favorite day, the Pirates' associate head coach, Nate Johnson, told the crowd. Through tears, he described his memories of Coach Alto.

"He loved opening day, and on opening day, he was always here super early," Johnson said. "But today I beat him to the field. And it's going to be the only time that I ever do." Johnson will lead the team for the year, honoring Altobelli with every game.

Altobelli died along with his wife, Keri, and their 13-year-old daughter, Alyssa. Alyssa was a teammate of Bryant's daughter, Gianna, on a youth basketball team at the former Laker's Mamba Sports Academy. The group — a pilot and eight passengers — were heading to the facility in Thousand Oaks for a tournament game when the crash occurred.

Altobelli is survived by his son, J.J., and daughter, Lexi. The Orange Coast College Foundation has set up a memorial fund to support them. Donations can be made at weblink.donorperfect.com/altobellifamily.

Altobelli's brother Tony, the sports information director at the college, told fans before the game, "I want you guys to smile, I want you guys to laugh, to tell jokes."

He attempted to lighten the somber mood before the game with a shared anecdote.

"I had an umpire for today's game come up to me. I won't mention who," Tony Altobelli said. "Loved my brother to death, you know. He was part of the final four last year, been around for years. He knows who I am. He gave me a big hug, told me how much he loved my brother, actually kind of broke down a little bit. It was beautiful, it was touching — and the only thing that could come into my mind was, can you imagine my brother making an umpire cry?"

As a scout for the Boston Red Sox, J.J. Altobelli's associates have shared their support, establishing a GoFundMe page to also raise money for those left behind. As of this report, nearly $200,000 has been raised on their behalf.

In addition to leading the OCC Pirates to a state championship last year, John Altobelli won a National Coach of the Year award from the American Baseball Coaches Association.

His career record in 28 seasons was 705-474-4. His teams won four state championships and made it to the state's final four eight times.

The game drew about 2,000 fans, including hundreds of former players, alumni and friends. Memorials were left, including ribbons in the school's orange and blue, as well as candles, baseballs and basketballs.

John Altobelli's friend Rich Dunn said, "I think I only cried three times during the ceremony, so not too bad."

On Monday, Dunn talked about Altobelli, saying that he "was a stand-up guy, salt of the earth, and the best neighbor I've ever had."

Dunn choked up when recalling how Altobelli would make a point of stopping by at day's end to check on his neighbor and his young son, Julian, who was battling brain cancer.

"On his way home, he would stop here and see how things were going," Dunn said. "Not every neighbor did that. But John always reached out and asked what he could do. ... He would always ask about Julian and what he could do. He was a wonderful neighbor and friend. He'd be so empathetic. For whatever reason, I could always talk to John. It was easy to talk to him; he was so caring and had such a big heart."

On Sunday, Dunn spent the day at OCC with Tony Altobelli. The pair formerly worked together at the Daily Pilot newspaper as sportswriters.

Dunn recalled how John Altobelli was a rival baseball player growing up in Orange County.

"I played at Orange Coast College, and he played at Golden West College," Dunn said. "And we played against each other in high school. But in junior college, I knew him as a tough competitor, and then we became friends. And then he became the coach at Orange Coast, and I was a sportswriter, so we had the coach-sportswriter relationship."

Dunn said the Altobelli family is "legendary" in their Newport Beach neighborhood.

"That family started the tradition 50 years ago" of setting up luminarias in Santa Ana Heights for Christmas, Dunn said.

City News Service contributed to this report.