b'The Unbreakable Lifeof Naseem RochetteA South Orange neighbor reflects on her brutal near-death experienceBY DONNY LEVITThe Rochette Family L to R: Asha, Jasper, Naseem, Westcott and Kalyan.O n a recent rainy weekdaydogs take seats on the laps of various Rochettes, oc- job at Microsoft, she had closed an impressive deal evening,theRochettecasionally changing laps and quietly darting in andwith a client. Although she usually drove to the train familygathersintheout of the family room. In many ways, its the quint- station, Naseems car was in the shop that day. She front room of their Southessential snapshot of a poised, tranquil family. walked home towards South Orange Middle School, Orangehome.NaseemBut the subject they are assembled to discuss iswhere Asha was a student. It was so nice out that Rochetteisseatedonaanything but tranquil. Over the next hour, we willday, she recalls. I remember passing my daughters couch,bookendedbyrevisit a terrifying incident in their lives that couldbest friend and I was just happy to see her.her husband, Westcott, and her 15-year-old daugh- have left Naseem dead. Eighteen months later, theyNaseemheadedtowardstheintersectionof ter, Asha. Jasper, their 13-year-old son, is recliningarestillcomingtotermswithaneventthathasNorth Ridgewood and Tillou roads, where her hus-comfortably on one sofa chair while 11-year-old sonchanged them. band had parked to pick her up. I was in the middle Kalyan settles into another chair facing his parents.On Monday, May 21, 2018, Naseem took a trainof the crosswalk, and I remember how good I was Afewthrowblanketscoverthefamilymembers.from New York to South Orange after a particularlyfeeling. I was just enjoying life at that moment. And Throughout our conversation, three cats and threesatisfying day at work. Just four months into a newthen I saw the car coming and I yelled, Hey! and 16/ matters magazine / winter 2020'