Bruce Bastian

Bruce Wayne Bastian (March 23, 1948 – June 16, 2024) was an American computer programmer, businessperson, and philanthropist. He was raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he was a missionary in Italy. The two worked on a Data General computer. In 1982, they released WordPerfect 2.2 for the IBM Personal Computer.

Philanthropy Bastian established the B.W. Bastian Foundation in 1997. 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."

Bastian also provided financial assistance to the Plan-B Theatre Company, the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera, and Ballet West. He also supported the LGBT Resource Center on campus.

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