Samuel Sporn '53: Immigrant Experience Inspires a Legacy of Generosity
Samuel P. Sporn '53 moved to the United States from Montreal with his parents in 1932 as a boy. As a teenager, Sporn learned they had been living in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, as undocumented immigrants.
Sporn became a U.S. citizen, graduated high school at age 16, and began work in the mailroom of a textile company. Hoping to unlock a better career, he enrolled at Brooklyn College and was accepted two years later to Brooklyn Law School, where he became editor-in-chief of the Brooklyn Law Review , received the Dean William Payson Richardson scholarship award, and graduated as class valedictorian.
His long and successful career has spanned the public and private sectors, from serving in the U.S. Army's Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) to founding the law firm Schoengold & Sporn, P.C., which specializes in securities law. Yet Sporn never forgot about his immigrant roots or Brooklyn Law School. He and his wife, Ellen, have been major financial supporters for 40-plus years.
"I'm forever grateful and beholden to Brooklyn Law School for accepting me," said Sporn. "I'm proud of what I accomplished there and went on to accomplish in my life's work as a lawyer."
The Sporns have made commitments to fund two scholarships at Brooklyn Law School; one which was endowed by a generous gift during their lifetime, and another funded by their Charitable Remainder Trust.
The latest recipients include Alisher Alimov '23, who worked with undocumented people through a Legal Aid Society internship. "It was a fulfilling experience to help them obtain their freedom and avoid deportation," said Alimov.
Another recipient, Claire Miolene '24, joined Brooklyn Law after working as a Manhattan District Attorney's Office paralegal and recently landed an associate position at Paul, Weiss for the summer of 2023. She is inspired by Sporn's life story.
"I hope to have the opportunity to chase a similarly successful and impactful career as he has had with my Brooklyn Law degree," Miolene said.
