Trust in the process

Despite now living in Arizona, David Sitterson, BS ’78 (journalism, telecommunications and film), still considers himself an Oregonian. That’s partially due to his experience at the University of Oregon, where he had inspiring instructors, made friends, and learned the ins and outs of journalism. 

Sitterson worked for Oregon coastal newspapers the Newport Times and Lincoln County Leader before eventually pivoting to investment banking. The skills he built as a journalist working with government and community organizations helped him make the leap.   

“Journalism taught me how to assess situations, how to study issues and get to the heart of the matter,” Sitterson says.  

In 2023, Sitterson learned that he could place his Eugene-based rental house into a charitable remainder trust. That way, he could eliminate the frustrations of being a landlord while also earning income—and avoid paying some of the capital gains taxes and fees that would come with selling.   

“I'm making more this way than I did renting it,” Sitterson says. “It certainly provides me with a security blanket that makes me feel comfortable. It has simplified my life.”    

Sitterson also gives back through investing in the School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) and the PathwayOregon scholarship fund. He’s passionate about making sure that young journalists are educated about fair and equal coverage and that more students gain access to higher education.  

His passion for “paying it forward” arose after he observed the impact of his father's once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue higher education. His father, B.W. Sitterson, grew up in rural North Carolina during the Great Depression. A community member recognized his potential and helped him pay for tuition at Harvard Medical School, from which he eventually graduated. 

“I wouldn’t exist had this person not helped. Giving to the UO seems like paying it forward and also paying it back for the people who helped my father,” Sitterson says.