Bruce Bastian | |
---|---|
![]() Bastian in 2011 | |
Born | Bruce Wayne Bastian March 23, 1948
Twin Falls, Idaho, U.S. |
Died | June 16, 2024
Palm Springs, California, U.S. | (aged 76)
Alma mater | Brigham Young University |
Occupations |
|
Known for | Co-founding WordPerfect |
Spouse(s) |
Melanie Laycock
(
m. 1976;
div. 1993)Clint Ford (
m. 2018) |
Children | 4 |
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.
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]
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (June 2024) |
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]
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]
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]
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.
In 1976, she married Bruce W. Bastian and together they had four sons. The couple divorced in 1993 but remained close.
Bruce Bastian | |
---|---|
![]() Bastian in 2011 | |
Born | Bruce Wayne Bastian March 23, 1948
Twin Falls, Idaho, U.S. |
Died | June 16, 2024
Palm Springs, California, U.S. | (aged 76)
Alma mater | Brigham Young University |
Occupations |
|
Known for | Co-founding WordPerfect |
Spouse(s) |
Melanie Laycock
(
m. 1976;
div. 1993)Clint Ford (
m. 2018) |
Children | 4 |
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.
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]
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (June 2024) |
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]
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]
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]
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.
In 1976, she married Bruce W. Bastian and together they had four sons. The couple divorced in 1993 but remained close.