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| known_for = Co-founding [[WordPerfect]]
| known_for = Co-founding [[WordPerfect]]
| boards =
| boards =
| spouse = {{marriage|Melanie Laycock-Bastian|1976|1993|end=div}}<br/>Clint Ford
| spouse = {{marriage|Melanie Laycock|1976|1993|end=div}}<br/>{{marriage|Clint Ford|2018}}
| children = 4
| awards =
| awards =
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
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'''Bruce Wayne Bastian''' (March 23, 1948 – June 16, 2024) was an American [[Programmer|computer programmer]], and businessperson, and philanthropist.<ref name="fox13obit"/> He co-founded the [[WordPerfect]] Software Company (originally known as Satellite Software International) with [[Alan Ashton (executive)|Alan Ashton]] in 1978.
'''Bruce Wayne Bastian''' (March 23, 1948 – June 16, 2024) was an American [[Programmer|computer programmer]], businessperson, and philanthropist.<ref name="fox13obit"/> He co-founded [[WordPerfect]] (originally known as Satellite Software International) with [[Alan Ashton (executive)|Alan Ashton]] in 1978.


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
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Bastian established the B.W. Bastian Foundation in 1997.<ref name="deseretnewsobit"/>
Bastian established the B.W. Bastian Foundation in 1997.<ref name="deseretnewsobit"/>


A philanthropist, Bastian supported the LGBT community and the performing arts in Utah.<ref name="fox13obit">{{cite news |last1=Burt |first1=Spencer |last2=Tencer |first2=Emily |title=Bruce Bastian, co-founder of WordPerfect and longtime LGBTQ+ philanthropist, dies at age 76 |url=https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/bruce-bastian-co-founder-of-wordperfect-and-lgbtq-supporter-dies-at-age-76 |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=Fox 13 |date=June 16, 2024}}</ref> 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."<ref name="fox13obit"/> In 2003, he donated more than $1 million to the [[Human Rights Campaign]].<ref name=deseret/> He served on their board for the next 22 years.<ref name="hrcboardmember">{{cite web |last1=Fields |first1=Aryn |title=Human Rights Campaign Mourns the Loss of Bruce Bastian, Champion for LGBTQ+ Equality & HRC Board Member for 22 Years |url=https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-mourns-the-loss-of-bruce-bastian-champion-for-lgbtq-equality-hrc-board-member-for-22-years |website=Human Rights Campaign |access-date=June 18, 2024}}</ref>
A philanthropist, Bastian supported the LGBT community and the performing arts in Utah.<ref name="fox13obit">{{cite news |last1=Burt |first1=Spencer |last2=Tencer |first2=Emily |title=Bruce Bastian, co-founder of WordPerfect and longtime LGBTQ+ philanthropist, dies at age 76 |url=https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/bruce-bastian-co-founder-of-wordperfect-and-lgbtq-supporter-dies-at-age-76 |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=Fox 13 |date=June 16, 2024}}</ref> 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."<ref name="fox13obit"/> In 2003, he donated more than $1{{nbsp}}million to the [[Human Rights Campaign]].<ref name=deseret/> He served on their board for the next 22 years.<ref name="hrcboardmember">{{cite web |last1=Fields |first1=Aryn |title=Human Rights Campaign Mourns the Loss of Bruce Bastian, Champion for LGBTQ+ Equality & HRC Board Member for 22 Years |url=https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-mourns-the-loss-of-bruce-bastian-champion-for-lgbtq-equality-hrc-board-member-for-22-years |website=Human Rights Campaign |date=June 17, 2024 |access-date=June 18, 2024}}</ref>


Bastian also provided financial assistance to the [[Plan-B Theatre Company]], the [[Utah Symphony]] and [[Utah Opera]], and [[Ballet West]].<ref name="fox13obit"/> 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 & Sons|Steinway piano]]s in 2000.<ref name="utahmusichonorees">{{cite web |title=About the Honorees: Bruce W. Bastian |url=https://music.utah.edu/news/bastian.php |website=School of Music |publisher=The University of Utah |access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref> He also supported the LGBT Resource Center on campus.<ref name="utahmusichonorees"/>
Bastian also provided financial assistance to the [[Plan-B Theatre Company]], the [[Utah Symphony]] and [[Utah Opera]], and [[Ballet West]].<ref name="fox13obit"/> At the [[University of Utah]], he donated $1.7{{nbsp}}million for the renovation of [[Kingsbury Hall]] in 1997 and $1.3{{nbsp}}million for the purchase of 55 [[Steinway & Sons|Steinway piano]]s in 2000.<ref name="utahmusichonorees">{{cite web |title=About the Honorees: Bruce W. Bastian |url=https://music.utah.edu/news/bastian.php |website=School of Music |publisher=The University of Utah |access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref> He also supported the LGBT Resource Center on campus.<ref name="utahmusichonorees"/>


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.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts-22610 |title=President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 2/26/10 &#124; The White House |date=2010-02-26 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |access-date=2013-11-01}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts-22610 |title=President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 2/26/10 &#124; The White House |date=2010-02-26 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |access-date=2013-11-01}}</ref>
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*[http://mormonstories.org/?p=1095 Philanthropist and WordPerfect Co-Founder Bruce Bastian], Interview on Mormon Stories
*[http://mormonstories.org/?p=1095 Philanthropist and WordPerfect Co-Founder Bruce Bastian], Interview on Mormon Stories


{{Portal bar|Biography|Business and economics|Computer programming|LGBT}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Business and economics|Computer programming|LGBTQ}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Engineers from Idaho]]
[[Category:Engineers from Idaho]]
[[Category:Former Latter Day Saints]]
[[Category:Former Latter Day Saints]]
[[Category:American LGBT businesspeople]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ businesspeople]]
[[Category:LGBT Latter Day Saints]]
[[Category:LGBTQ Latter Day Saints]]
[[Category:LGBT people from Idaho]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from Idaho]]
[[Category:People from Orem, Utah]]
[[Category:People from Orem, Utah]]
[[Category:People from Twin Falls, Idaho]]
[[Category:People from Twin Falls, Idaho]]
[[Category:21st-century American LGBT people]]
[[Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people]]

Latest revision as of 18:49, 24 September 2024

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
​
​
(m. 1976; div. 1993)​

Clint Ford
​
(m. 2018)​
Children4

Bruce Wayne Bastian (March 23, 1948 – June 16, 2024) was an American computer programmer, businessperson, and philanthropist.[1] He co-founded WordPerfect (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 (June 17, 2024). "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.
[edit]
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