PHOTOSShannon Beador Pays Tribute To Basketball Coach Who Died In Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash
Orange County girls basketball coach Christina Mauser was identified on January 26 as one of the nine victims killed in the helicopter crash that occurred just a day prior. Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among those who perished in the accident. Real Housewives of Orange County star Shannon Beador shared a deep and personal connection to Christina, 38, and shared a special tribute to her on Instagram.
Christina coached Shannon's three daughters — Sophie, 18, and twins Stella and Adeline, 14 — in basketball at the O.C.'s Harbor Day School. Alongside a team photo of the school's girls basketball team that included Christina, Shannon, 55, wrote, "Christina Mauser. An incredible coach and amazing influence on all three of my daughters that played basketball in middle school."
"And amazing mother of 3 children. Our greatest sympathies go out to @sinatrabigband and his family. The Beador girls are devastated. Sending our prayers to the Mauser family... ??," the Bravo star continued.
Christina’s husband Matt Mauser confirmed the tragic news that she had died in a Facebook post. He wrote, "My kids and I are devastated. We lost our beautiful wife and mom today in a helicopter crash. Please respect our privacy. Thank you for all the well wishes they mean so much.”
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Sophie shared the same photo on her Instagram Story and wrote, "I will forever be heartbroken … Your spirit and passion for basketball was so inspiring to me. I wish I could give you a big hug one last time. You will forever be my june bug. Praying for your family. Rest easy.”
Adeline also took to her Instagram Story and thanked the late coach for “always caring about me and being my second mom." She added, "To the person who shaped me into who I am, I am heartbroken."
Matt called in to the Today show on Monday, January 27, and spoke with hosts Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie about Christina. He admitted that he's “scared” to go through life without her. “I’ve got three small kids and I’m trying to figure out how to navigate life with three kids and no mom,” he said. “I’m scared more than anything — I’m a little scared for the future.”
On Sunday, January 26, Kobe, 41, Gianna, 13, and Christina were amongst several victims that were killed in Calabasas, California. Pilot Ara Zobayan, and college baseball coach John Altobelli, his daughter Alyssa Altobelli and his wife, Keri Altobelli, were also killed in the fatal crash.
