On August 22nd, our beloved mentor, Bruce Buswell, passed away peacefully from a heart attack. We miss him deeply, but we're so grateful for all the memories he created with us.

Bruce’s dedication to us students was immeasurable. Every weekend, he would stand outside with us for hours in the biting cold, volunteering his time to provide invaluable one-on-one support. His cheerful, humorous personality always lifted our spirits, even through our biggest disappointments. He truly was a remarkable mentor.

To honor everything Bruce did for us, we are raising funds to place a bench at 60 Acres Park, where we spent countless weekends launching rockets together. We hope this bench will serve as a lasting memorial to Bruce—a place where our team, his students, and everyone who knew him can sit, remember him, and reflect on the impact he had on our lives. It feels especially meaningful to honor him in a place that was such an important part of our time together.

Thank you so much for helping the Newport Rocketry community come together in memory of Bruce, whether you’re a past member, current member, or simply a distant friend. We truly appreciate your support and hope you can join us in celebrating Bruce’s life and the lasting impact he had on all of us.

Rest in peace, Bruce. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered.