Erach Tarapore was born and grew up in Bombay, India.  He graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay, 1972.  He then attended the University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a Ph.D. in Materials Science and an M.B.A. He worked in R&D for Kaiser Aluminum for 24 years, retiring as Process Development Manager. 

Erach has served on the board of the Zoroastrian Anjuman of Nothern California (ZANC) for almost 20 years, most recently as a Trustee.  He and his wife Silloo have taught Sunday School in the area for much of that time.