David B. Cornstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Cornstein
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| United States Ambassador to Hungary | |
| In office June 22, 2018 – October 30, 2020 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Colleen Bell |
| Succeeded by | Marc Dillard, Chargé d'Affaires |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
David Bernard Cornstein
August 17, 1938 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | March 26, 2026 (aged 87) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Lafayette College (BA) New York University (MBA) |
David Bernard Cornstein (born August 17, 1938 – died March 26, 2026) was an American businessman and a diplomat. He served as the United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2018 to 2020. Mr. Cornstein had a successful career in several businesses, including jewelry and telemarketing. He was chosen by President Donald Trump to be the ambassador.
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Growing Up and Learning
David Cornstein was born in New York City on August 17, 1938. He grew up as an only child. His father, Irwin, worked in the rug business, and his mother, Fanny, was a schoolteacher. David's grandparents on his mother's side came to the U.S. from Hungary.
He went to P.S. 168 in The Bronx and then to Horace Mann School, finishing in 1956. David earned a college degree (a B.A.) in 1960 from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. He later earned a master's degree in business (an M.B.A.) from New York University (NYU). After his studies, Mr. Cornstein served as a cook in the Army Reserve.
Career Highlights
Business Ventures
David Cornstein began his career while still a student at NYU. He started by opening a jewelry counter inside a J. C. Penney store. This grew into a company called Tru-Run, which sold jewelry in department stores across the U.S. Mr. Cornstein was the president and CEO of this company.
His company later bought other jewelry businesses. In 1988, they acquired Finlay Fine Jewelry. Mr. Cornstein then created a new company called Finlay Enterprises. He became its president and chief executive in 1988. The company grew and even expanded into Europe in the 1990s. He left Finlay in 1999.
Public Service and Other Roles
In 1994, Mr. Cornstein was appointed to the New York Off-Track Betting Commission. He later became its chairman. In this role, he suggested new ways for people to follow horse races, like watching them live on TV.
Mr. Cornstein also considered running for political offices, such as Mayor of New York City. He briefly ran for New York State Comptroller in 2001 but later withdrew.
In 1999, Mr. Cornstein became chairman of TeleHubLink, a company focused on telemarketing and wireless products. Later, a legal case was brought against TeleHubLink regarding its business practices. In 2003, a court upheld a decision that required the company to provide refunds to customers.
Mr. Cornstein also held other important positions. He was chairman of Pinnacle Advisors Ltd. and continued to be involved with Finlay Enterprises. In 2006, he was chosen to lead the Jewelers' Security Alliance. New York Governor George Pataki also appointed him to lead the New York State Olympic Games Commission, which worked on a bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Serving as an Ambassador
Mr. Cornstein was a member of the Republican Party throughout his life. He supported many politicians from both Republican and Democratic parties.
On February 13, 2018, President Donald Trump chose Mr. Cornstein to be the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary. Mr. Cornstein and President Trump had been friends for many years.
As Ambassador, Mr. Cornstein worked to build strong relationships between the United States and Hungary. He often spoke positively about the Hungarian government led by Viktor Orbán. He believed in working closely with leaders to achieve diplomatic goals.
Central European University
In 2018, there was a discussion about the future of Central European University (CEU), an American university located in Budapest, Hungary. Mr. Cornstein believed an agreement had been reached for the university to remain. However, the university later decided to move some of its programs out of Hungary. Mr. Cornstein shared his view that the university's decision was not related to academic freedom.
End of Service
Mr. Cornstein's time as ambassador included discussions about his approach to diplomacy.
On September 15, 2020, the U.S. Embassy in Budapest announced that Mr. Cornstein would finish his role as Ambassador on November 1, 2020. He stated that it was an honor to serve his country in Hungary.
Family and Later Years
David Cornstein was married to his wife, Sheila, for more than 50 years. He was also involved in Jewish community activities. He had one son.
Mr. Cornstein passed away on March 26, 2026, at the age of 87.
