Bruce Wisentaner, 68, of Bedford, MA passed away peacefully on March 1, 2026, with family near following an extended hospitalization.

Bruce was born September 9, 1957, to Leo and Barbara (Roper) Wisentaner in Roxbury, MA and grew up in Brighton. He graduated from Boston Latin High School and then Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1979, at which point he began a long career as a software engineer.

He is survived by his wife Barbara Kelley and son Conor Wisentaner; his sister Karen Wisentaner and her wife Rakel Nilsen, of Fort Lauderdale, FL; many brothers and sisters in-law, as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his sister, Meralee Wisentaner.

Bruce was many things, foremost a loving spouse and father; a steadfast relative and friend. He was a great-outdoors enthusiast, an avid reader, and a polymath—a fount of all kinds of information. He loved "messing about in boats." A 43-year member of Community Boating in Boston, he especially loved messing about in sailboats. Multi-day sails taken along the Maine coast, Cape Cod and the islands, and in some far-away places were among his most treasured memories. As a long-time member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, he explored the White Mountains, mostly on foot, sometimes on skiis or a bike. It was on a hike there that he met his wife. He shared the outdoor activities he loved with his family, and as his son grew, Bruce was an invaluable source of advice and gear for Conor's own outdoor adventures. A proud father, he enjoyed following Conor's achievements in the Air Force and sharing them with others, including Conor's development of novel satellite tracking techniques and being one of the first pilots to graduate a new version of pilot training. In town, Bruce was a regular participant in annual town and special meetings; he often attended Trails Committee meetings, and over the years volunteered for trail work and to lead some of their trail walks; he also enjoyed frequent visits to the local library.

Bruce was a quiet man, steady and thoughtful. He was the one taking pictures and videos, supplying a crucial piece of information in a conversation, emailing links to information he thought you might find interesting or helpful. We will miss him greatly.

Visitation will be held at the Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Rd., Bedford, on Friday, March 6, from 4:00 to 7:00. A Celebration of Life is planned for the fall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Community Boating, Inc., at 21 David G. Mugar Way, Boston, MA 02114 or https://portal.community-boating.org/donate?fundName=General+Operating or The Appalachian Mountain Club, 10 City Square, Boston, MA 02129 or https://www.outdoors.org/donate/donate-form/