At promptly 8:24 a.m. — representing Kobe Bryant’s jersey numbers with the Lakers — San Clemente sand sculptor Jay Bellamy dug up his first shovel of sand at Baby Beach in Dana Point Harbor.
The scoop was the beginning of an hours-long labor of love Friday, Jan. 31, to pay homage to Bryant, 41, his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven other Orange County residents who died Sunday when the helicopter they were riding in slammed into a Calabasas hillside.
A bouquet of flowers lays on the sand sculpture created by Jay Bellamy of San Clemente as a tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the seven others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash, on Friday, January 31, 2020, at Baby Beach in Dana Point. He began the sculpture at 8:24 a.m. and finished five hours later. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jay Bellamy of San Clemente works on a sand sculpture tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the seven others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash, on Friday, January 31, 2020, at Baby Beach in Dana Point. He began the sculpture at 8:24 a.m. and finished five hours later. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Beach goers look on as Jay Bellamy of San Clemente works on a sand sculpture tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the seven others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash, on Friday, January 31, 2020, at Baby Beach in Dana Point. He began the sculpture at 8:24 a.m. and finished five hours later. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jay Bellamy of San Clemente wipes tears away after he is overcome with emotion after finishing a sand sculpture tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the seven others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash, on Friday, January 31, 2020, at Baby Beach in Dana Point. He began the sculpture at 8:24 a.m. and finished five hours later. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
As beach goers look on, Jay Bellamy of San Clemente works on a sand sculpture tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the seven others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash, on Friday, January 31, 2020, at Baby Beach in Dana Point. He began the sculpture at 8:24 a.m. and finished five hours later. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
As two young girls look on, Jay Bellamy of San Clemente shovels sand for the sand sculpture tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the seven others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash, on Friday, January 31, 2020, at Baby Beach in Dana Point. He began the sculpture at 8:24 a.m. and finished five hours later. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jay Bellamy of San Clemente places a bouquet of flowers on the sand sculpture he created as a tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the seven others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash, on Friday, January 31, 2020, at Baby Beach in Dana Point. He began the sculpture at 8:24 a.m. and finished five hours later. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jay Bellamy of San Clemente works on the initials on a sand sculpture tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the seven others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash, on Friday, January 31, 2020, at Baby Beach in Dana Point. He began the sculpture at 8:24 a.m. and finished five hours later. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
As beach goers look on, Jay Bellamy of San Clemente pauses for a moment of prayer after finishing the sand sculpture tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the seven others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash, on Friday, January 31, 2020, at Baby Beach in Dana Point. He began the sculpture at 8:24 a.m. and finished five hours later. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A woman takes a photo of the sand sculpture tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the seven others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash, which was created by Jay Bellamy of San Clemente, on Friday, January 31, 2020, at Baby Beach in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jay Bellamy of San Clemente places a bouquet of flowers on the sand sculpture he created as a tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the seven others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash, on Friday, January 31, 2020, at Baby Beach in Dana Point. He began the sculpture at 8:24 a.m. and finished five hours later. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dozens gather to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna and seven others who died Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Golden)
Dozens gather to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna and seven others who died Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Golden)
Dozens gather to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna and seven others who died Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Golden)
The crash also killed John Altobelli, 56, longtime Orange Coast College baseball coach; his wife Keri Altoberri, 46, and their daughter Alyssa Altobelli, 14; Christina Mauser, 38; Sarah Chester, 45 and her daughter Payton Chester, 13; and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.
The sand monument, which included a broken heart draped over a large basketball and nine other hearts — each inscribed with the initials of a victim — was Bellamy’s way of helping to heal the community and the families who lost their loved ones.
Bellamy has become known for his tributes to South County locals, to the military and for his poignant monuments on national and religious holidays. On July 13, the artist created a monument to Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, on what would have been Skaggs’ 28th birthday. Skaggs died July 1, in Texas, due to a mixture of opioids and alcohol.
Bellamy, a longtime Lakers fan, said he was devastated on Sunday when he heard the news of the helicopter crash.
“Kobe was not just here in our communities but across the world,” he said. “He made an impact on people, no matter where he was and no matter who you are. The others who were lost impacted many, many lives as well. This is just another eye-opener to how short the fragile and precious life is for us. And how we need, every day, to love each other and not take anything for granted.
“You need to tell your loved ones you love them when you leave the house,” he said. “Tell your friends and tell everyone in your life that you love them. We can never say that enough.”
As Bellamy worked at the beach Friday, many people dressed in Lakers purple and gold came by to see his growing creation. He said the tribute was very emotional and he broke down often as he worked.
“Kobe to me meant someone who was selfless and lived life to the fullest,” Bellamy said. “Everywhere he went he treated people with generosity.”
Paula Knappert, of San Juan Capistrano, spent hours sitting on the wall near where Bellamy was digging and forming the wet sand for his sculpture.
“I’m here to support the Mauser family,” she said. “I lost my husband in a fiery car crash and my kids were nine, 11 and 15, then. So my heart is really heavy. I lost my daughter Keegan to melanoma in 2015. Her last words were ‘Be brave Mama.’ What I would like to tell (musician) Matt (Mauser) who is a local and has entertained us for years, is that Christina would want me to tell him, ‘Be brave Daddy.’ If I can do this, you can do this. You’ve got this buddy. There is light after darkness.”
Toby Braun, a longtime Lakers fan, wore Bryant’s Olympic team jersey to the beach.
“It hit me really hard, it was almost like losing a family member,” the Dana Point resident said. “For 20 years you could turn on the TV and for a couple of days a week, he was there scoring 40 points a game.”
Braun said he met Bryant several times at local sporting events and the NBA star was always accessible.
“He was just a cool, cool cat,” Braun said. “He had so much more to go.”
Jeff Golden, a friend and fellow parishioner of Bellamy’s at Capo Beach Church, was not only there to recognize Bryant but also Bellamy.
“He just has a heart for people,” Golden said of the artist. “He gives dignity to people who suffer and also to the families that are suffering.”
Golden said he admired Bryant for what he did on and off the court.
“You see great athletes with a great career,” he said. “What he did after his career, the way he led his life, is perhaps his greatest example. I think that’s why he’s a great role model. He overcame difficulties and his own mistake. He’s able to show us we can.”
At exactly 3:30 p.m., Bellamy gathered a group in prayer around the memorial sculpture adorned with purple and yellow flowers. That specific time — 3:30 — was chosen to honor Bryant’s high school jersey No.33.
Please accept our sincerest condolences. As you navigate this deeply difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with you, the victims and their loved ones who died in roadway tragedies.
While you take care of yourself and your family, let the legal team at Rafii & Associates, P.C. fight for you. Our personal injury attorneys have decades of experience extracting multi-million dollar settlements from the largest insurance companies. If you or your loved ones were harmed by an auto accident, call us today for a free evaluation of your case: 1-800-262-9885. Hablamos Español, para asistencia inmediata, llámenos.
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