2020: Remembering six popular Orange County sports figures who lost their lives

A photo tribute to the Altobelli family was on display for the celebration of life on Monday, Feb. 10, at Angel Stadium. (File photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Four coaches from Orange County, one former athlete and a popular broadcaster were among those who died in 2020.

OC Sports Zone covered these stories and this week, takes a look at the sports figures who touched many lives, while remembering others from our communities who have lost their lives this year as well.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo; for best results, go to our website: ocsportszone.com (either desktop or mobile)

JOHN ALTOBELLI, OCC BASEBALL COACH

Long-time Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli was among the victims in the Sunday, Jan. 26 helicopter crash in Calabasas that also killed Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, college officials confirmed.

OCC officials confirmed that Altobelli’s wife Keri and youngest daughter, Alyssa, 13, were among the nine victims. Kobe Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also among the victims.

Kobe Bryant, his daughter and the Altobelli’s were on their way to Calabasas for a youth basketball game. John Altobelli’s daughter and Kobe Bryant’s daughter were on the team.

The likeable, highly-successful Altobelli, referred to as “Coach Alto” was about to begin his 28th season as the Pirates head coach.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Orange Coast College head baseball coach John Altobelli,” OCC officials said in a statement. “He was a coach, a colleague, a mentor and a friend at OCC for 27 years.” 

TIM O’BRIEN, NORTHWOOD BOYS BASKETBALL COACH

Legendary long-time Orange County high school boys basketball coach Tim O’Brien died Thursday, Oct. 8 at UCLA Medical Center after a long battle with cancer, school officials confirmed.

Coach O’Brien was 66.

“He was like a brother to me and I am struggling with the fact that he is gone as are many,” said long-time friend and Northwood High colleague Susan Weatherholt, ASB accountant and the first athletic secretary at Northwood. “The most gracious, caring, man ever. He is a happy man now.”

O’Brien returned to coach Northwood last season. The Timberwolves were 11-18 and finished third in the Pacific Coast League with a 6-4 record. The Timberwolves lost to Sonora 72-50 in the opening round of the CIF 2A playoffs. Assistant coach Zach Johnson coached the team when O’Brien was unable to. He was later named interim head coach.

During his 35-year coaching career in Orange County, O’Brien was a head basketball coach at Northwood, Estancia, Santiago and Tustin high schools and Orange Coast College.

O’Brien also had coaching stops at Mesa Community College in Arizona and Saguaro High School in Scottsdale.

DAN FINK, CREAN LUTHERAN GOLF COACH

Dan Fink, a popular teacher and coach who helped start the Crean Lutheran High School boys basketball program, then later coached the girls and boys golf programs, died on Wednesday, Feb. 26 after a brief illness, school officials have confirmed.

“Dan was an incredible member of our faculty and our sports program,” Crean Lutheran Athletic Director Eric Olson said. “He coached basketball, he also coached football for us and golf. Dan was an amazing friend, colleague and just an amazing person who always spread the love of God. He ministered to his athletes.

“Tyler Guo (former Crean Lutheran golf champion) visited him from USC and still laying there in his last moments, he (Fink) was talking with Tyler about Jesus. One of the family members gave Dan Fink a cross and he wanted Tyler to have it. Tyler didn’t want to take it, but he was pretty insistent on Tyler taking it with him that day.”

Fink became Crean Lutheran’s first boys basketball coach, leading the Saints from 2008 to 2013. The Saints struggled for wins in the early days of the program.

“He got the program off to a good start,” Olson said.

Fink remained positive and supportive of his players. He was always cooperative with the media after games, including games when his teams lost.

From 2013 to 2016, Fink was an assistant varsity football coach and was part of the staff that led the Saints to the 2015 Academy League championship.

Fink, 53, was then the head girls golf coach from 2017 to 2019, leading the Saints to the Empire League title in 2019 and 2020. In 2019, Crean Lutheran was the CIF runner-up. The 2019 league title was the first for the school.

From 2018 to 2019, Fink was the head boys golf coach. Crean Lutheran was the Empire League champion in 2019 and Guo was the individual champion of CIF and Southern California in 2018. Guo was also named the golfer of the year in Orange County two years in a row by the Orange County Register.

ETHAN STAHL, FORMER UNI BASEBALL PLAYER

Former University High School baseball star Ethan Stahl, who constantly went out of his way to help others and enjoyed life to the fullest, died suddenly on Saturday, July 4 shortly after collapsing at his home in Costa Mesa, his father Harry, said Tuesday.

“All of the Uni kids would say he had a zest for life and he cared about everybody,” said former University baseball coach Chris Conlin. “Every year he was the first to call about the alumni game. He loved Uni baseball and the Angels. He was a great teammate and friend to all.”

Stahl, who was single, was 43. He is also survived by his mother Susan and his sister, Sara Cohen.

The Stahl family has lived in University Park for more than 40 years.

Stahl, who was in University High’s class of 1995, was a catcher on the Trojans’ baseball team that won the league title that season. Stahl, who was also used as a designated hitter, was with the program for four years.

Stahl, an all-league player his senior year, was a catcher and designated hitter for the Trojans with a batting average around .360.

“He was instrumental in our 1995 league championship,” Conlin said. “It started the 8-year streak that we won or finished third in league eight years in a row. He wanted the team to win more than any player I’ve ever coached.”

MIKE GILLESPIE, FORMER UCI BASEBALL COACH

Legendary college baseball coach Mike Gillespie, who led the UC Irvine baseball team to five post-season appearances and one trip to the College World Series, died Wednesday, July 29 at the age of 80, according to UCI athletic officials.

University officials did not list a cause of death for Gillespie, who was often called “Skip” by fellow coaches and players. He also had a stellar coaching career at USC.

“On behalf of UCI Athletics Department, I want to offer heartfelt condolences to Coach Gillespie’s wife, Barbara, his children, Kelly, Mitch, Matt and Tiffany; his grandchildren and his extended family,” Director of Athletics Paula Smith said in a statement.

“Mike was a leader, mentor, successful coach, and trusted colleague. We have lost a great baseball coach and even better man. He touched so many lives and he will be missed by many.”

Gillespie was the head coach at UCI for 11 seasons, from 2007 to 2018 and led the Anteaters to the College World Series in 2014. Gillespie was selected National Coach of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in 2014 and was named Big West Coach of the Year in 2009, when he guided the Anteaters to the conference championship.

Under Gillespie the Anteaters made five post season appearances and won regional titles in 2008, 2011 and 2014. 

MARK HELLER, ORANGE COUNTY SPORTS ANNOUNCER

Popular long-time Orange County sports broadcaster Mark Heller died Thursday morning, March 26 after a valiant battle with leukemia, his wife Mary confirmed with OC Sports Zone.

Heller, 57, died of complications from leukemia, which returned in the past week, his wife said. He died at Mission Hospital surrounded by his family, including his daughters Marissa and Macarah, she said.

“Mark passed away today March 26 at 4:39 a.m.,” his wife said in a telephone interview. “He was in no pain and he passed peacefully. We were so grateful for how his death occurred. Two days before all this happened, we were all with him while he was able to communicate and we had the best time.

“We were laughing and playing music and just having a wonderful time with him, all of us. Yesterday, we all spent time with him going around the room and telling stories to him about him and we were sharing it and it went on for hours. He was just loved upon that whole last day with his whole family there. That was so important to him. It (the leukemia) returned in his spine and in his brain.”

In January, Heller called the play-by-by for four boys basketball games at the BSN Showcase at Pacifica Christian on a rainy night outside in Newport Beach. Heller teamed up with former Cal State Fullerton basketball star Chris Dade, who did the commentary for the telecasts, which were livestreamed for basketball fans. The last game he broadcast had a thrilling finish. Pacifica Christian defeated Arbor View of Las Vegas 69-68.

One of his last assignments was as a public address announcer at a CIF Division 1 boys basketball semifinal playoff game between JSerra and Windward. He sat on the press row with a mask over his face to protect him. His voice was booming as he announced the starting lineups for the game. He had similar stints throughout Orange County at high school events and previously had been the play-by-play voice for the Cox 3 television games. He also called UCI basketball games on Cox television.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com