Adam Spilka ’87 passed away on January 17, 2023. He was the husband of Patricia Murphy and father of Jackson Spilka, who both survive him. Adam was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and he moved to California in his childhood before coming to New York to get his undergraduate degree in art history at Columbia University. He went on to study at Cardozo, where he served as senior editor of the Law Review and as the Class of 1987's commencement speaker. His legal career started at Debevoise & Plimpton, then at Equitable and AXA Financial. Sought by many for his intellect, as well as his demeanor, Adam became general counsel and corporate secretary of Artio Global Investors before becoming Chief Operating Officer at Huygens Capital. In the mid-’90s, Adam taught legal writing here at Cardozo.

Adam generously left a bequest in his will to support the Cardozo Alumni Scholarship Fund, one of the law school’s top philanthropic priorities. His generosity has already provided two students who have a background in the arts, just as Adam had, with tuition assistance.