The memorial grew in front of the main doors to Bryant Gymnasium throughout the evening. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK
Shortly after hearing about the death of Former Los Angeles Lakers guard and Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant, and his daughter, Gianna Bryant, people around the world were trying to come to grips that Byrant and his daughter had died. Outside of Bryant’s high school, Lower Merion High School, just three miles from St. Joe’s campus, mourners gathered throughout the evening to pay their respects, creating a growing memorial. At the same time, workers at Bryant’s favorite cheesesteak stop, Larry’s Steaks on 54th Street, mourned the death of one of their most beloved customers.
See scenes of Philadelphia area communities mourning by Photo Editor, Mitchell Shields ’22, and Editor-in-Chief Luke Malanga ’20.
Mourners gather around the entrance to Bryant Gymnasium at Lower Merion High School in the evening of Jan 26. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWKA man makes the sign of the cross beside the memorial on Jan. 26. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWKThe night of Bryant’s death, Moataz Ebid, manager of Larry’s Steaks, films a news segment highlighting Bryant’s visits to Larry’s. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWKA banner commemorating Bryant, and his daughter Gianna, hangs at Larry’s Steaks on 54th Street the day following their deaths. PHOTO: LUKE MALANGA ’20/THE HAWKPost-It notes placed on a window in Rashford Hall commemorate Bryant on the day following his death. PHOTO: LUKE MALANGA ’20/THE HAWKLower Merion High School students convene after school at a memorial for Bryant outside of Bryant Gymnasium on Jan. 27. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWKXuanyu Li, a graduate student at Drexel University, holds Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers Jersey at the memorial. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWKToni Sanderson drove from New Jersey to lay flowers on the memorial. Sanderson said Bryant was an inspiration to her late son, feeling like Bryant was a part of her family. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWKMourners kneel beside the memorial. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWKRyan Zimmer ’21 (center) mourns the loss of Bryant at the memorial. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWKA woman wears shoes inscribed with the Bryant’s name on her right shoe, and his daughter’s name on her left shoe at the memorial. PHOTO: MITCHELL SHIELDS ’22/THE HAWK
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