Altobelli Memorial Wall by

Coach alto,

2021-01-26 19:16:22 UTC

I took his table tennis class and it was a great memory with him and also cpr class as well. The day before tragedy happens, I had a weird feeling and had a nightmare as seeing coach alto smile but didn’t saying anything. And the next day, i woke up and heard a breaking news as kobe Bryant died from the helicopter crash along with coach alto and his family. At first, I didn’t want to believe it but it’s true and I was really depress and still in shook until now.
Patrick phan

2021-01-26 20:00:13 UTC

we remember you all today and every day <3

Alto

2021-01-26 20:18:47 UTC

One night when I was young my mom and I were home alone and thought somebody was on our property. Alto came over with a baseball bat and cleared every inch of the house and yard just to make sure we were safe

Life Saver

2021-01-26 22:41:59 UTC

Alto was not only my baseball coach and mentor, he also taught First Aid at OCC. He would ask me how I could hit a ball 400' but I couldn't get the chest compression deep enough on the dummy to pass the test. Anyway, about a month after taking his class, I was on the 405N when a car flipped over about 100 yards in front of me. I quickly went through Alto's safety checklist in my head. I pulled over to see if everyone was ok. There was a stunned little girl in her car seat with milk spilled all over her and her mom was unconscious in the drivers seat. Both mom and child turned out ok and the paramedics complemented the procedures I followed. So not only did Alto impact me as a ballplayer (which he did big time), he gave me the confidence to help others in a scary situation. Forever a Pirate. - John Lukin

Balboa Island-

2021-01-27 20:27:15 UTC

Yesterday was along day..this week has been a long week...this month has been a long month...last year was a long year! But on a Sunday early in January 2020-I'm going to hold onto that day for the rest of my life. Craig and I went for a walk around Balboa Island. We were not there very long when a sweaty person jump up behind us and squeezed our shoulders...It was John...winded he told us he had just finished washing all the cars (of course he did) and he thought he would go for a quick run around the island. He slowed down a bit to walk with us...we asked how, K, Lexi, Lyssa and JJ how everyone was doing. We talked baseball, basketball and family. It was great seeing him. We talked for about 20 minutes, he gave us each a quick Bear hug and off he ran!..That was the last time I saw my brother, that was the Best Christmas Present we ever got! Miss you so much Altobell's, John K and Lyssa
Love you,
Your sister Sissy and Craig Oberlin

Hiring John

2021-01-30 01:45:53 UTC

When a young and a little anxious John Altobelli walked into my office as one of three candidates vying to coach OCC's pretty successful baseball program, I introduced myself (as President of Orange Coast College) and encouraged him not to be nervous but just to talk a little about himself and what he thought he could bring to this position. I remember him sitting on the edge of his seat the entire interview; his smile, his intensity and sense of purpose were infectious and I knew I didn't have to look further for the head of our baseball program. Of course I knew there had to be reference checks, etc, so I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying right then "You're hired! Welcome to Coast". David A. Grant

Coach Alto

2021-03-30 04:16:03 UTC

I remember coming to Newport harbor and reaching varsity baseball after transferring. It was disappointing because I had to play Jv ball. It was a blessing because they fired the Jv coach and John replaced him. John taught me to love the game. He taught me to strategize. I look forward to games. He had that spirit of making today happen. He was my best coach in 18 years of ball second to wiffle ball games with Alto junior who I got to play ball with for two years. Jim Ferrell. Tars baseball 87