Silda Wall Spitzer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Silda Wall Spitzer
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Silda Wall Spitzer in Rochester, 2006
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| First Lady of New York | |
| In role January 1, 2007 – March 17, 2008 |
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| Governor | Eliot Spitzer |
| Preceded by | Libby Pataki |
| Succeeded by | Michelle Paige Paterson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Silda Alice Wall
December 30, 1957 Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Residences | Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Meredith College (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
| Occupation | Lawyer private equity entrepreneur |
Silda Alice Wall Spitzer (born December 30, 1957) is an American businesswoman and lawyer. She was the First Lady of New York from January 2007 to March 2008. This was when her husband, Eliot Spitzer, was the governor.
Silda Wall Spitzer has worked in many areas. These include helping the environment, supporting youth education, and promoting human rights. She also works to help women become more independent financially.
Currently, she is a director at NewWorld Capital Group. This company invests in products and services that help the environment and energy. She also co-founded and is the CEO of New York Makers. This is a digital magazine and online store that focuses on New York State.
Early Life and Education
Silda Alice Wall was born on December 30, 1957. She grew up in Concord, North Carolina. Her father, Robert, worked as a hospital administrator. Her mother, Trilby, was a homemaker. She was raised as a Southern Baptist.
She graduated from Meredith College in 1980 with a degree in English and history. She earned her degree with summa cum laude honors, which means "with highest distinction." In 1984, she received her law degree from Harvard Law School.
Personal Life
Silda Wall married Eliot Spitzer on October 17, 1987. They have three daughters: Elyssa, Sarabeth, and Jenna. In December 2013, Silda Wall and her husband announced the end of their marriage.
Career and Community Work
Silda Wall began her legal career at a firm called Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. She focused on business deals like mergers and corporate finance. Later, she joined The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., working in their international legal team.
She helped start Project Cicero. This is an annual book drive in New York City. It collects books to create libraries in schools that need them. She also served on the New York Blue Ribbon Commission on Youth Leadership. From 1995 to 1999, she was on the board of the Children's Museum of Manhattan.
In 1996, she co-founded Children for Children (CFC). This non-profit group helps children get involved in volunteering from a young age. She was its president and chair until 2007. CFC later became part of Points of Light and is now called generationOn.
As the wife of former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, she served as the First Lady of New York. This role lasted from January 2007 until March 2008. From 2008 to 2011, she was a managing director at Metropolitan Capital Advisors.
Today, she is a director at NewWorld Capital Group. This company invests in green energy and environmental projects. These projects include energy efficiency, clean energy, and waste recycling. She is also the co-founder and CEO of New York Makers.
Silda Wall Spitzer is active in many non-profit groups. She is the vice-chairperson of Urban Green Council. She also serves on the Ceres president's council and the Sustainable Endowment Institute's advisory board. She is a board member at Meredith College and the Center for Law, Brain, and Behavior. She is also an honorary trustee for No Bully, an organization that works to stop bullying.
Achievements
- She received an honorary doctorate degree from Meredith College in 2012.
