Bruce McKenzie Buswell

Bruce McKenzie Buswell passed away in his home on August 22nd, 2026, in Bellevue, Washington. Beloved by his community, he leaves behind a legacy of national service, innovation, mentorship, and dedication to family. He will be remembered for his selflessness and inexhaustible patience. His entertaining life stories, cheerful personality, and odd colloquialisms will be dearly missed.

Bruce was born on September 30th, 1956, in Takoma Park, Maryland, the only child of his parents, Arthur and Nellie Lee Buswell. Growing up in the midst of the Space Race, Bruce developed a lifelong interest in space. At the age of 16, he interned at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, developing a foundation in hands-on engineering that would serve him throughout his life.

After attending the University of Arizona from 1974 to 1976, he returned to Maryland and enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving honorably as an Airman First Class until 1978. After his service, Bruce worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency, applying the expertise he had developed in the Air Force operating and servicing weather station equipment.

Drawn by its natural beauty and sense of openness, Bruce made Washington State his new home in 1988. In 1991, he joined the burgeoning computer gaming industry, co-founding Azeroth, Inc., developing games including SimCity Classic, Inspector Gadget: Mission 1 – Global Terror!, and Bruce’s personal favorite, Just Another War in Space.

Ever the entrepreneur, Bruce left Azeroth in 1994 to start the Software Buying Network, which bought and developed software for larger companies. His experience and connections there would then lead him into the telecommunications industry. After working for a number of companies, Bruce joined Verizon Wireless and remained there until his retirement in 2014, concluding his career as the Western Area Network Program Manager.

Having never lost his love for space, in retirement Bruce combined his passion for space with his desire to help others by volunteering as a mentor for educational rocketry programs across western Washington. Bruce found this role particularly meaningful, passing on his hands-on approach and try-anything mindset to the next generation. His success in this is reflected in the size and achievements of the program. He was involved with over a dozen clubs totaling hundreds of students and was the founding mentor for Newport Rocketry, which won the American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) in 2023. Bruce was recognized for his effort in 2024, receiving the ARC Outstanding Mentor Award.

Although no longer with us, his legacy lives on through the many people he taught, encouraged, and inspired. Bruce was a veteran, pioneer, engineer, mentor, and above all, a deeply cherished family member and friend. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his partner, Denise, and stepchildren, Johnathon and George.