Shannon Storms Beador Pays Tribute to Kobe Bryant and Her Daughters' Former Coach Christina Mauser
"My girls and our community are heartbroken," The Real Housewives of Orange County mom said.
Christina Mauser, a basketball coach who, along with Kobe Bryant, was one of the nine people killed in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California on Sunday, January 26, played a special role in the lives of Shannon Storms Beador and her three daughters.
Shannon paid tribute to Mauser, who coached all three of her daughters (Sophie, 18, Stella, 15, and Adeline, 15) on their middle school basketball team, on Instagram following the news of the accident. "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," Shannon shared. "Our greatest sympathies go out to [Mauser's husband, Mike Mauser] and his family. The Beador girls are devastated. Sending our prayers to the Mauser family..."
The Instagram post featured a photo of Shannon's eldest daughter, Sophie, posing with her teammates from her middle school basketball team and Mauser. Sophie continues to play on her high school's varsity basketball team, which she has been a part of since her freshman year.
Eight other people were killed in the helicopter crash along with Mauser, including Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna; John Altobelli, the head baseball coach at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa; Payton Chester, a 13-year-old basketball player, and her mother Sarah; and pilot Ara Zobayan.
Shannon also honored Bryant, who was a Newport Beach, California resident, and the family man he was on Instagram. "Utterly heartbreaking to hear of the passing of @kobebryant. An amazing athlete, philanthropist, and businessman," Shannon wrote. "But I will remember him as an incredible father who put his family and children first. A man with such a kind heart who would file library books, serve hot lunch, and coach the kids in basketball. My girls and I are sending prayers to @vanessabryant and her family."
She also called Bryant and his daughter "an amazing duo" in another post on Instagram."She was an incredible basketball player and it was a privilege to watch her father coach her," Shannon said. "My girls and our community are heartbroken."
