Nina was born in New York on August 31st, 1995 & within 10 months moved to Osaka, Japan.  She attended Moriguchi kindergarten from 3-5 years old & loved Japanese food.  She started studying Shorinji Kempo martial art in Japan and learned English and Japanese.   She moved back to United States and attended a full time Japanese school called Nishiyama-to Academy (1st-5th grade).   She attended Carden Conservatory from 6th-8th grade and quickly adapted to a bilingual US education system.   
 
Nina continued Shorinji Kempo studies and participated in the San Jose tournament and Mt. Diablo seminars as a 1st kyu Brown belt.  Her drive to expand was relentless that in 8th grade wanted to run the LA Marathon and at the age of 13 years old ran it in 6 hours 30 minutes.  Running is not in the Rastogi gene but she continued by joining Fountain Valley High School Cross Country and Track team, reaching her personal 3 mile record of 20 minutes and 8 seconds.  By the 9th grade she ran her 2nd LA Marathon in 4 hours and 30 minutes.   Nina definitely inspired me to start running.    Nina was not naturally gifted academically but managed to achieve the honor roll in high school because of her effort.  She shocked us again when she passed both her car and motorcycle license.   Her ability to balance grueling physical Cross Country practices and academics eventually got Nina accepted to Cal Poly Pomona’s Electrical Engineering Honors program.  She started an internship at Panasonic and her professors at Cal Poly recommended her as an intern at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).  After graduating from Cal Poly Pomona University, Nina fell in love with JPL and was rewarded with a full time position at JPL. 
 
“It is not the years in your life that counts, but the life in your years.”  I could not have been more proud of raising a daughter as wonderful and ambitious as Nina.  She touched our lives like a shooting star.  Yukiko and I will hold all the great memories of Nina!

I do not have words to say anything . She by realtionship is my niece. And it is so sad for me to get that news for a young member of our family.

May God rest her soul in peace.

Pawan Rastogi

Coming to Pasadena last summer I was lucky enough to meet Nina, I'll remember with great love the short time we spent together. She was truly one of the most generous people I have ever met, immediately  welcoming me into her life and home, and driving me around far too much.  I'm glad I was responsible for her first time swimming in the sea from Santa Monica; I remember the look of what I like to think of as excitement, but which was probably dread, as we waded past the first waves. 

I send my love to Nina's family, though I do not know them, I hope it is something of a comfort to know that their sadness is shared here in the UK. 

My heart aches for the Rastogi family.  I was looking at Nina's baby photos posted on this site and reflected back when I used to babysit Nina while her parents were at work and how she loved to eat her miso soup with tofu that Yukiko packed for her lunch.  I also remember once trying to get Nina to take a nap.  She cried and didn't want to lay down so, I picked her up and cradled her in my arms, rocked her and sang some childhood songs until she settled down and she fell asleep.  Nina was a sweet and calm baby.  I loved looking at her long eyelashes and wished mine were as long.    

This is my cherished memory of beautiful Nina that I wanted to share.   From the Chaddock family, we send you our love, prayers and condolences.  

OBITUARY

Nina Rastogi

August 31, 1995 – August 6, 2018

Westminster Memorial Park and Mortuary

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