Remembering and Honoring Akbar Lari

Washington, D.C. – PAAIA mourns the passing of a cherished member of our community: founding member and long-serving Board Member Akbar Lari. 

Akbar Lari embodied vision, generosity, and a steadfast commitment to uplifting others. Through his leadership and kindness, Akbar built bridges across generations and communities, leaving an enduring mark on countless lives. His absence will be deeply felt, but his legacy will continue to inspire.  

While a few paragraphs cannot do his life justice, please join us in remembering him.  

Akbar Lari 

Akbar Lari was a visionary businessman, a devoted family man, and a proud Iranian American who left a lasting mark on both his community and his profession. 

Born in Iran, Akbar began his career in the construction industry, where he and his partners developed major projects including the Bandar Shahpur residential complex, cement plants, an airport, and an Olympic sports complex. After the 1979 Revolution, Akbar moved to New York City, where he built a reputation as a determined real estate developer. Competing among the most prominent figures in New York, he developed landmark projects in Manhattan, including properties on Park Avenue and Wall Street. Throughout his career, he was known as a man of his word—guided by integrity, thoughtfulness, and a commitment to excellence. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Akbar was deeply dedicated to serving the Iranian American community. As a founding supporter of PAAIA, he played a major role in advancing its mission to safeguard the civil rights and civic participation of Iranian Americans, often leveraging his relationships and resources to strengthen the community’s voice in Washington, DC. He was among the first Iranian Americans to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2003) and later worked to ensure others in the community were recognized as well. Passionate about history and culture, he was instrumental in making possible Eminent Persians (by Abbas Milani), a book chronicling key Iranian figures of the 20th century. 

Thoughtful, reserved, and loyal, Akbar valued family above all, proudly working alongside his three children. He will be remembered for his integrity, his devotion to Iran and Iranian Americans, and his lasting contributions to both his homeland and his adopted country. 

Akbar was a blessing. The PAAIA Family misses him dearly and will carry forward his generosity, vision, and spirit of service in the work we do together.