Meet Tom Elghanayan ’66
From Tehran to New York: Tom Elghanayan’s Family Journey of Resilience and Success
As part of our celebration of Jewish Yalies this February, we spotlight Tom Elghanayan ’66—a name you may recognize as the CEO of TF Cornerstone, an award-winning NYC-based real estate development company.
Tom’s family’s name, Elghanayan, carries a legacy of resilience and historical significance for Persian Jews.
This interview with Tom Elghanayan was filmed over two days, capturing a life story that spans continents and generations forever impacted by the Iranian revolution.
A Legacy of Industry and Leadership
The Elghanayan family rose from humble beginnings in Tehran, Iran—a time when their weekly food trips were made on donkeys—to become what Tom describes as “the leading Jewish family” in Iran.
The family’s impact extended beyond business, modernizing daily life in Iran by revolutionizing refrigeration and air conditioning. What began as his father’s import/export business grew into manufacturing aluminum and plastics, industries that contributed to Iran’s development.
Yet, their success unfolded against a shifting political landscape, one that would soon reshape the Jewish experience in Iran entirely.
A Tragic Turning Point: The Execution of Habib Elghanayan
Tom’s uncle, Habib Elghanayan, was not just a successful businessman—he was the leader of the Jewish community, President of the Tehran Jewish Society, and the Jewish representative in the Majlis, Iran’s parliament. He hoped to help Iranian Jews establish a stronger political voice—but the 1979 Iranian Revolution changed everything.
Habib was arrested and became the first civilian executed by the new government. Once a friend of the Shah, he was accused of a baseless charge of price gouging during a period of national inflation. He was given a mock trial, with no opportunity for a defense.
For Iran’s Jewish community, the execution was a seismic shock in Iran, New York, and Israel. Tom compares it to what it would have been like if David Rockefeller had been publicly executed in the United States. It was meant as a message:
“It was meant to show that Jews were vulnerable, that any Jew could be imprisoned or killed.” – Tom Elghanayan
Panic spread, and it signaled the mass exodus of Iranian Jews.
A New Beginning in America
Tom’s journey to the U.S. had begun much earlier. At just four years old, his family moved to Forest Hills, Queens.
Tom attended Blair Academy, a Presbyterian boarding school in New Jersey. There, he had little formal Jewish education but still felt a strong connection to Judaism through his Persian heritage and his religious father. From Blair, he was accepted to Yale’s Jonathan Edwards College, where he played on the tennis and squash teams, before continuing on to earn an MBA at Harvard Business School.
Over the decades, Tom built a powerful career in real estate. Today, his family’s company, TF Cornerstone, is one of the leading real estate developers in New York and Washington, D.C., with a growing presence in other major cities.
Yet, through all his success, he never forgot where he came from.
Giving Back: A Legacy for Future Generations
Tom remains deeply committed to supporting Jewish life and education.
He established a scholarship fund at Yale, dedicated to helping underprivileged Jewish and minority students from New York City, ensuring that future generations have the same opportunities he once had.
As a Urim v’Tumim Fellow at Slifka Center, Tom is recognized for his dedication to supporting a vibrant Jewish community at Yale.
From Iran to Yale, from loss to renewal—Tom’s story is one of resilience, responsibility, and the unwavering determination to build a better future.
Do you want to get involved at Slifka Center?
Email Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations Melinda Papowitz at melinda.papowitz@yale.edu.