Caleb Melby

Born in 1932 to a Persian Jewish family, Fraydun Manocherian was raised in the Baha’i faith. He co-founded Manocherian Brothers and Pan Am Equities with his siblings, focusing on urban redevelopment. A dedicated fitness enthusiast, he established the New York Health & Racquet Club chain in 1973, which grew to become the largest fitness chain in New York City. He also founded the New York Stress & Research Center.

Manocherian became a prominent advocate for traffic safety following a personal tragedy in his youth. This led to the founding of the National Road Safety Foundation in 1962. He authored a book on auto safety titled 'Flesh, Metal & Glass' in 1970, which introduced his 'Manocherian Chart.' In collaboration with attorney Leonard J. Robbins, he established The Manocherian-Robbins Foundation to reduce road fatalities through public awareness and legislative efforts. In 2011, he published a work of fiction, 'My Father's Will: A Novel.'

Fraydun Manocherian, alongside his brothers, was instrumental in the founding of Manocherian Brothers and Pan Am Equities. These companies concentrated their efforts on the revitalization of tenement buildings in the Upper East Side of New York City. His entrepreneurial spirit extended to the fitness industry when, in 1973, he established the New York Health & Racquet Club. This venture proved highly successful, eventually expanding to become the largest fitness chain within New York City. Manocherian also created the New York Stress & Research Center, indicating an interest in well-being beyond physical fitness.

A significant portion of Manocherian's public life has been dedicated to improving automotive safety. His commitment stemmed from a deeply personal experience in 1955, when the loss of two high school friends to a drunk driver fueled his desire for change. This led him to become an advocate for federal funding for traffic safety education. In 1962, he founded the National Road Safety Foundation, an organization aimed at reducing accidents and fatalities on the nation's roads. He further contributed to this cause through his 1970 book, 'Flesh, Metal & Glass,' which explored auto safety issues and presented his unique 'Manocherian Chart.' He also co-established The Manocherian-Robbins Foundation to advance road safety through public service campaigns and legislative advocacy.

Beyond his work in real estate and safety advocacy, Fraydun Manocherian has also engaged in literary pursuits. In 1970, he authored 'Flesh, Metal & Glass,' a non-fiction work focused on the critical topic of auto safety. Later, in 2011, he ventured into fiction with the publication of 'My Father's Will: A Novel.' Manocherian married Jennifer Ann Robbins in 1959, and together they had five children. His family history includes notable figures such as his brother Eskander, who was married to Bernice Manocherian, a former president of AIPAC, and his daughter Kimberly, who currently leads the New York Health & Racquet Club.