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Bruce Bastian

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Bruce Bastian
Bastian in 2011
Born
Bruce Wayne Bastian

(1948-03-23)March 23, 1948
Twin Falls, Idaho, U.S.
DiedJune 16, 2024(2024-06-16) (aged 76)
Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Alma materBrigham Young University
Occupations
  • Computer programmer
  • businessperson
Known forCo-founding WordPerfect
Spouse(s)
Melanie Laycock-Bastian
​
​
(m. 1976; div. 1993)​

Clint Ford

Bruce Wayne Bastian (March 23, 1948 – June 16, 2024) was an American computer programmer, and businessperson, and philanthropist.[1] He co-founded the WordPerfect Software Company (originally known as Satellite Software International) with Alan Ashton in 1978.

Early life and education[edit]

Bastian was born on March 23, 1948, in Twin Falls, Idaho.[2] He was raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,[3] and he was a missionary in Italy.[2] He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master's degree in Computer Science from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah.[2] As an undergraduate, he served as the director of the BYU Cougar Marching Band and developed a software program to help choreograph marching band performances together with Alan Ashton.[2]

Career[edit]

Bastian began working for the Eyring Research Institute (ERI) at BYU, and he was soon joined by Ashton to work on a word processor for the city of Orem, Utah.[4] The two worked on a Data General computer.[4] Their collaborative work later became the company known as WordPerfect,[4] founded in 1979.[5] In 1982, they released WordPerfect 2.2 for the IBM Personal Computer.[4] Bastian was the chairman of the board until 1994.[5]

Philanthropy[edit]

Bastian established the B.W. Bastian Foundation in 1997.[5]

A philanthropist, Bastian supported the LGBT community and the performing arts in Utah.[1] He was a donor to Encircle, the Utah Pride Center, and Equality Utah, whose executive director noted, "No individual has had a greater impact on the lives of LGBTQ Utahns."[1] In 2003, he donated more than $1 million to the Human Rights Campaign.[3] He served on their board for the next 22 years.[6]

Bastian also provided financial assistance to the Plan-B Theatre Company, the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera, and Ballet West.[1] At the University of Utah, he donated $1.7 million for the renovation of Kingsbury Hall in 1997 and $1.3 million for the purchase of 55 Steinway pianos in 2000.[7] He also supported the LGBT Resource Center on campus.[7]

In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Bastian to the Presidential Advisory Committee of the Arts in honor of Bastian's long-term commitment to the arts.[8]

Personal life and death[edit]

Bastian married Melanie Laycock in 1976, and they had four sons; they divorced in 1993.[9] He later married Clint Ford.[1][7] They resided in Orem, Utah and Palm Springs, California.[2][5] Bastian died from lung disease on June 16, 2024, at the age of 76.[1][5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Burt, Spencer; Tencer, Emily (June 16, 2024). "Bruce Bastian, co-founder of WordPerfect and longtime LGBTQ+ philanthropist, dies at age 76". Fox 13. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Funk, Mason. "Bruce Bastian". The OUTWORDS Archive. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Romboy, Dennis (June 22, 2003), "Bastian's profile low — in Utah, at least", Deseret News, retrieved January 5, 2012, The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay and lesbian political action committee, honored him last fall for giving more than $1 million to its capital fund-raising project.
  4. ^ a b c d Williams, Lane (October 29, 1989). "WordPerfect: Orem Company Had Humble Beginnings 10 Years Ago But Now Manufactures Most Popular Word-Processing Program in U.S." Deseret News. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e Everett, Emma (June 17, 2024). "WordPerfect co-founder Bruce Bastian dies at 76". Deseret News. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  6. ^ Fields, Aryn. "Human Rights Campaign Mourns the Loss of Bruce Bastian, Champion for LGBTQ+ Equality & HRC Board Member for 22 Years". Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "About the Honorees: Bruce W. Bastian". School of Music. The University of Utah. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 2/26/10 | The White House". whitehouse.gov (Press release). February 26, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2013 – via National Archives.
  9. ^ "Melanie Laycock-Bastian". Deseret News. 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Legacy.com. In 1976, she married Bruce W. Bastian and together they had four sons. The couple divorced in 1993 but remained close.

External links[edit]

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