Bruce Bastian, a co-founder of the WordPerfect Corporation, passed away on June 16 at the age of 76 at his home in Palm Springs, California. Bastian, known for his role in popularizing word processing through WordPerfect, later made headlines for his advocacy for LGBTQ causes after coming out as gay and renouncing his Mormon faith.
Michael Marriott, the executive director of the B.W. Bastian Foundation, cited complications from pulmonary fibrosis as the cause of Bastian’s death.
In the late 1970s, during his graduate studies at Brigham Young University, Bastian, along with his computer science professor Alan C. Ashton, founded the company that would later become WordPerfect.
During the 1980s and early ’90s, Bruce Bastian and Alan Ashton revolutionized the use of computers for everyday tasks, with WordPerfect emerging as the top choice for new computer users. The user-friendly interface and efficient design of WordPerfect captivated users, distinguishing it in a crowded market of word processors.
With a combination of Bastian’s software coding expertise and Ashton’s business acumen, WordPerfect captured 50 percent of the word processing market by 1991, generating over $500 million in sales.
Despite WordPerfect’s success, market shifts and competitive challenges, particularly from Microsoft, led to the eventual sale of the company to Novell in 1994.
As Bruce Bastian navigated personal and professional challenges, including his coming out as gay and leaving the Mormon Church, he continued to support various philanthropic causes. His contributions to arts, culture, and LGBTQ advocacy reflected his commitment to creating a more inclusive society.
Bastian’s journey, marked by both triumphs and setbacks, serves as a testament to his resilience and unwavering dedication to his beliefs.
His legacy lives on through his foundation and his impact on the LGBTQ community, leaving an indelible mark on those who knew him.
