Silda Wall Spitzer
Encyclopedia
Silda Alice Wall Spitzer (born December 10, 1957) is the founder and chair of the board of Children for Children
, a not-for-profit organization that fosters community involvement and social responsibility in young people. As the wife of former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer
, she was the First Lady
of New York State
from January 2007 until March 2008.
. Her father, Robert, was a hospital administrator and her mother, Trilby, was a homemaker. She was raised as a Southern Baptist. Wall graduated in 1980 with a B.A., summa cum laude, from Meredith College
. She received a Juris Doctor
from Harvard Law School
in 1984.
on October 17, 1987 and together they have three daughters. Spitzer stated that when her husband decided to pursue his political career, she turned her focus more towards the raising of their children, which also allowed her to focus on her work with non-profit organizations.
, hotel. Governor Spitzer held a press conference where he apologized for a "private matter" that violated obligations to his family but did not go into any detail regarding the charges. Spitzer resigned on March 17.
, specializing in mergers, acquisitions and corporate finance. She then joined The Chase Manhattan Bank
, N.A. as a member of its International Legal Group. She is a founding co-chair of Project Cicero, the annual New York City book drive building classroom libraries in under-resourced schools and serves as trustee for her children's school. She served on the NY Blue Ribbon Commission on Youth Leadership as well as the board of the Children's Museum of Manhattan
from 1995 until January 1999, where she was a member of its executive committee and chaired its program committee. In 1996, she co-founded Children for Children
, a not-for-profit organization promoting community involvement and civic engagement in youths.
Children for Children
Children for Children is a New York based not-for-profit that promotes hands-on youth volunteering and giving programs which teach and instill the value of community involvement and civic engagement in children from all backgrounds, beginning at a young age.The organization was created through the...
, a not-for-profit organization that fosters community involvement and social responsibility in young people. As the wife of former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
, she was the First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of New York State
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
from January 2007 until March 2008.
Early life
Wall grew up in Concord, North CarolinaConcord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
. Her father, Robert, was a hospital administrator and her mother, Trilby, was a homemaker. She was raised as a Southern Baptist. Wall graduated in 1980 with a B.A., summa cum laude, from Meredith College
Meredith College
Meredith College is a liberal arts women's college located in Raleigh, North Carolina. For the 2010-2011 academic year, there were approximately 2,300 students enrolled, including about 350 graduate students, making Meredith the largest women's college in the southeastern United States...
. She received a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1984.
Personal life
She married Eliot SpitzerEliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
on October 17, 1987 and together they have three daughters. Spitzer stated that when her husband decided to pursue his political career, she turned her focus more towards the raising of their children, which also allowed her to focus on her work with non-profit organizations.
Marital issues
On March 10, 2008, it was reported that Gov. Spitzer had been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute on February 13, 2008, at a Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, hotel. Governor Spitzer held a press conference where he apologized for a "private matter" that violated obligations to his family but did not go into any detail regarding the charges. Spitzer resigned on March 17.
Career
Silda Wall Spitzer began her legal career with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & FlomSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates , founded in 1948, is a prominent law firm based in New York City. With over 2,000 attorneys, it is one of the largest and highest-grossing law firms in the world. Forbes magazine calls Skadden "Wall Street's most powerful law firm"...
, specializing in mergers, acquisitions and corporate finance. She then joined The Chase Manhattan Bank
Chase Manhattan Bank
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., doing business as Chase, is a national bank that constitutes the consumer and commercial banking subsidiary of financial services firm JPMorgan Chase. The bank was known as Chase Manhattan Bank until it merged with J.P. Morgan & Co. in 2000...
, N.A. as a member of its International Legal Group. She is a founding co-chair of Project Cicero, the annual New York City book drive building classroom libraries in under-resourced schools and serves as trustee for her children's school. She served on the NY Blue Ribbon Commission on Youth Leadership as well as the board of the Children's Museum of Manhattan
Children's Museum of Manhattan
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan was founded by Bette Korman, under the name GAME , in 1973. With New York City in a deep fiscal crisis, and school art, music, and cultural programs eliminated, a loosely organized, group of artists and educators set up a basement storefront to serve Harlem and...
from 1995 until January 1999, where she was a member of its executive committee and chaired its program committee. In 1996, she co-founded Children for Children
Children for Children
Children for Children is a New York based not-for-profit that promotes hands-on youth volunteering and giving programs which teach and instill the value of community involvement and civic engagement in children from all backgrounds, beginning at a young age.The organization was created through the...
, a not-for-profit organization promoting community involvement and civic engagement in youths.
External links
- "Power Couples" profile of Silda Wall and Eliot Spitzer in 02138, October 2006.
- Children for Children official site
- New York Observer - Mrs. Spitzer Suits Up