By Kayhan Life Staff
Etrat Goudarzi-Elahi, a gifted writer and a dedicated contributor to Kayhan Publishing and to the Kayhan London newspaper, passed away on April 17 in the United States.
Etrat Elahi married the late Dr. Sadreddin Elahi in 1954 at 21, and together they had two children, Baran and Borzoo. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Elahi moved to Britain with her young son, Borzoo, who was just four years old, to pursue her master’s degree.
While in Britain, she visited Dr. Mostafa Mesbahzadeh, the founder of Kayhan Media Corporation, at his invitation. Dr. Mesbahzadeh encouraged her to explore journalism because of her family’s media background.
The next day, he took her to the London School of Journalism (LSJ), where she promptly enrolled. Two years later, Elahi returned to Iran after earning her journalism diploma.
A week after her return to Tehran, Dr. Mesbahzadeh then introduced her to the editorial team at Kayhan, marking the beginning of her journey with Kayhan Khanevadeh (‘Family Kayhan’), a magazine managed by Mrs. Forough Mesbahzadeh, Dr. Mesbahzadeh’s wife.
Elahi also managed the Faculty of Communication Science library, a school founded by Dr. Mesbahzadeh.
In addition to her work in journalism, Elahi was a dedicated teacher and a gifted writer. She even ran as a candidate in the elections for the Majlis (Iranian Parliament).
Alongside her husband, Dr. Sadreddin Elahi, she maintained close connections with the Kayhan Media Corporation. Later, she extended her involvement to Kayhan London, becoming a key figure within the Kayhan press family.
Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, she traveled to France to join her husband, who was pursuing his doctoral studies. While there, she enrolled in a culinary program at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu, a historic institution founded in 1895, to learn how to prepare delicious dishes and pastries for her family.
Little did she know that this decision would set her on an entirely new path.
Not long afterwards, the University of California, Berkeley, invited Dr. Sadreddin Elahi to join their faculty, prompting the family to move to the U.S. Etrat Elahi and her daughter Baran joined her husband and son Borzoo, who was studying in the U.S., six months before the Revolution.
When the Revolution broke out and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran, there were alarming reports of arrests and executions, specifically targeting journalists. The Elahi family were forced to remain in the U.S. and rebuild their lives.
In her early years, Etrat Elahi opened a coffee shop called Le Cafe, channeling her culinary talents and working alongside her daughter Baran and a family friend who was a professor.
Not long afterwards, she introduced her signature pastry, the Nutty Cookie, to the American market. Her pastries quickly gained a loyal following among both Americans and Iranian immigrants, and in 1996, she was honored with the prestigious “Great Taste” award.
With a deep love for her family and a strong belief in her abilities, Etrat navigated a new and successful chapter in her life.
Following the passing of her husband in 2021, Etrat faced difficult times. Yet at age 89, she decided to write her memoirs, hoping to give her grandchildren a deeper understanding of their family’s journey.
Within a year, she completed her memoir, Kooch (‘Migration’). The book was later translated into English as “Migration: A Woman’s Journey of Love, Hope, and Survival.”
The memoir chronicles the challenges and triumphs of Etrat’s life in Iran and the U.S., sharing stories of freedom, love, and resilience. It resonated deeply with readers and was so well received that a second printing was made.
A woman of grace, love, and strength, Etrat Goudarzi-Elahi has left an indelible mark on the hearts of her family, friends, and all who knew her. Her life is defined by loyalty, perseverance, and devotion, and her spirit lives on.
