David E. Springer, a nationally prominent complex litigation partner in the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, died on June 19 at his Chicago home after a battle with anal cancer. He was 55.
He is survived by his partner of 17 years, Bill Strausberger, Ph.D., a research associate at the Pritzker Laboratory for Molecular Biology at the Field Museum of Natural History.
Springer, the son of Edward W. and Mildred E. Springer, was born on Jan. 20, 1952, in Evanston.
A summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale College in 1974, Springer earned his law degree from Yale in 1977 and was a partner in the business litigation department at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago before joining Skadden, Arps in 1986. His cases have resulted in over 40 published opinions, many concerning front-line legal issues.
In 1996, he was co-counsel with Lambda Legal and represented a Wisconsin high school student who had been subjected to relentless anti-gay verbal and physical abuse in a groundbreaking case arguing that schools have a responsibility to protect students from anti-gay verbal and physical abuse. This historic victory was the first legal challenge to anti-gay violence in public schools.
Springer was also involved socially. He and Strausberger co-chaired Chicago House's 18th Annual Spring Brunch & Fashion Show and were table captains at the Center on Halsted's recent gala, 'Out & Open.'
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Lambda Legal released a statement mourning Springer's passing. Legal Director Jon W. Davidson said in part that ' [ w ] ith the death of David Springer, we have lost not only a great legal mind, but a kind and generous friend and colleague.'
In addition to his partner, Springer is survived by his father, Edward, and his sister, Annette. A memorial service was held June 23 at Oak Park's Pilgrim Congregational Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Marcus Institute, 1920 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30329 or The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532.
