Dustin Hull Heuston

1932 ~ 2022

Sandy, UT—Dustin Hull Heuston passed away at his Sandy home amidst the family he spent his life loving and serving on Father's Day, June 19, 2022. He was born April 24, 1932 in Greenwich Village, New York, to Patricia and Harold Zell Heuston, later moving to Riverdale and then Garrison with his family. After graduating from the Mount Hermon School for Boys and Hamilton College, he served as an Air Intelligence Officer in the Navy, where his dear friend Chuck Turner introduced him to the Book of Mormon, one of the great loves of his life. He returned to earn an MA from Stanford University and a PhD from New York University in American Literature. He married the greatest love of his life, Nancy Moebus, on September 12, 1959 in their hometown of Garrison-on-Hudson, New York. The pair left almost immediately for Provo, Utah so Dusty could teach English and Book of Mormon at BYU, followed by appointments at Vassar, Pine Manor Junior College, and finally as headmaster of the Spence School for Girls in New York City.

The Heustons were the proud parents of six children: Kimberley Heuston Sorenson, the late Kary Heuston Monson, Kelley Heuston, Heather Heuston Rosett (Charles), the late Hilary Zell Heuston, and Edward Benjamin Hull Heuston (Heather). After seeing the difference a great school like Spence made in the lives of his children, Dusty's already strong commitment to education intensified almost to the point of obsession. After offering the first independent school scholarships to students of color from the inner city, Dusty began to search for a more scalable solution. The first room-sized computers with paper tapes were just coming on the market. On September 1, 1976, Dusty founded WICAT (the World Institute for Computer-Assisted Teaching) in Orem, Utah.

During the years that followed, WICAT developed the first commercial computer using the Motorola 68000 chip, the first educational laser disc with federal funding, and opened the Waterford School, under his wife Nancy's direction, as a lab school for the Institute's educational software. His leadership in the field was recognized by SIIA, who honored him with their lifetime achievement award. In recent years, the Waterford Institute has become best known for UPSTART, their free and uniquely effective in-home school-readiness program, now available nation-wide.

Dusty was the first Waterford Original, known and loved for his untarnished sense of wonder, exuberant generosity, and love for Pepsi (later Sprite), new ideas, teaching, tennis, photography, golf, gadgets, and movies. His gift to himself for his fiftieth birthday was an airplane and lessons to fly it. As he would be the first to say, he has always backed passion.

He is survived by his beloved Nancy, four of his children, fifteen grandchildren, nine and ½ great-grandchildren, and students now numbering in the millions.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2022 in the Granite Chapel, 3100 East, 9400 South, Sandy, Utah at 10:00 am. Funeral to follow at 11:30 am.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Salt Lake Tribune from Jun. 19 to Jun. 24, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Dustin Heuston

24 Entries

Bruce W Galbraith

June 13, 2025

Nancy, You are in our hearts forever. The statement speaks to us all. . God bless you always! Karen and Bruce Galbraith.

Orrin Jay Hill New York City 1956 thru 1979, now living in Western Canada

June 14, 2024

I will never forget and appreciate the understanding of Brother Heuston in my teen life. His family has always been held in a place of honor. I knew them all and enjoyed his trust in allowing me to share time with his daughter Kary in my teens. These moments shared encouraged an empathy in my soul. Thank you Brother and Sister Heuston

Bruce Galbraith

August 14, 2022

I was fortunate to have been asked to help at Waterford School. Learning about this wonderful institution, and its leaders Dusty and Nancy, was one of the highlights of my life. Thank you Dusty, for your vision, leadership, and faith.
Bruce Galbraith

Nathaniel Hancock

June 25, 2022

What tremendous tributes today from the wonderful Heuston children. I´m grateful to have witnessed such a beautiful gathering and to have reconnected with past friends, teachers, and mentors - all of whom entered my life because of Dusty & Nancy.

Carolyn Hewitt

June 24, 2022

To all the Heuston family we send our love and sympathy to you on the death of your much loved husband , father, grandfather and great grandfather.
His vision gave our children a marvelous start in life one of which we speak of to this day some 30 years later.Warmest wishes

Eric and Rachel Schmidt

Planted Trees

Kaylyn Smith Crum

June 23, 2022

May you have peace and comfort at this time.

Alexandra Ikeguchi

June 23, 2022

Dr. Heuston was the new headmaster at Spence when I was accepted into the kindergarten class, and his vision to emphasize math and science as well as introduce computers into the curriculum had a massive impact on my education and career. His energy, warmth, and kindness were legendary as well. He used to display student art in his office, and I still have the thank you note he wrote to me as a 3rd grader when one of my paintings was chosen. I am so thankful for his life and service.

Stephany Hitchcock

June 23, 2022

Dear Nancy and family, I had a chance to speak to Dusty about seven years ago for a long time one afternoon, which was wonderful. We had a big catch up! He was such a huge influence on my life, and I am so sorry for his loss for everyone! He will live on in the hearts of all of us

Drs. Terry and Jan Clemmer, SLC

June 23, 2022

When he first arrived, Dustin H. was a breath of fresh air as a Sunday School instructor at BYU-Provo. It wasn't long before non-ward persons invaded the class. His enthusiasm made a difference in sharing the Gospel. Nancy and family, thank you for sharing him with so many.

Paige Gillette Louthan '77

Planted Trees

Howard Stephenson

June 22, 2022

I am in Gratitude for the impact Dusty had on me and countless children throughout the nation.
His endless patience over many years in mentoring me in the "Third Source" of technology in teaching and learning will never be forgotten.
Nor will his legacy in reaching and teaching children from low income, minority, special ed and immigrant families who, before UPSTART, had been left behind.
Truly, Dusty Heuston is one of whom the Savior spoke when He said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these . . . ye have done it unto me."

Jacqueline Lopez

June 21, 2022

Reading this brought tears to my eyes, remembering his quotes from his book that Upstart sent me when I started working last year; I'm awed at just what an amazing legacy Dustin left behind and how much I love this job as his passion continues to make a difference in the life of millions and in my own child who, thanks to Upstart, knows how to read and has a strong foundation in school. Wish I lived close so I can attend in person, but my Upstart son and I are there in person, feeling blessed at the incredible man that started the effort that keeps touching our lives at a core level.... You will be missed!

Jasmien Petty

June 21, 2022

Heuston Family, May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Shannan Egbert Skidmore

June 21, 2022

I met Dusty when he hired me in 1995 to be part of the first sales team of 10 Directors of School Relations for his brand new software, the Waterford Early Reading Program. I was just out of grad school. I opened up Washington and Oregon. Andy and I worked together a lot during those initial years, when edtech as a concept and industry was brand new. We had no brand recognition and just a simple brochure, along with a huge computer monitor and CPU that we hauled around to show the software to school and district administrators. I still can´t believe we pulled it off! We were too green to know how miraculous that was! But Dusty had a vision and he fired us up, armed us with his work model white paper, Marilyn Adam´s book (Beginning to Read: Thinking and Learning about Print), and some early efficacy research, and set us loose. We were revolutionary, cutting edge, preaching the Science of Reading and the power of intervention long before it was trendy or cool to do that. I am so grateful for the opportunity Dusty gave me to become part of his work, and the opportunities Pearson later offered to create a grant consulting model that not only greatly supported the program´s success, but enabled me to work flexibly from home while I raised my four children these last 27 years. I was a remote worker before we even had internet or email because Dusty and his team had a vision--they honored women and offered accommodations to traditional work models so that I could continue to work and contribute in significant ways, while also raising my children as the "stay at home" mom I wanted to be. Those kinds of professional opportunities for women like me were just unheard of back then. I am honored to still be evangelizing his innovative, family-centered learning models as I write grants to support Upstart. We are still cutting edge and revolutionary and the work continues to be as challenging and exciting as it was in 1995, though perhaps in different ways, as the challenge of SCALE is now our focus. Thank you, Dusty Heuston, for your leadership and vision, and for taking a chance on a new graduate with no sales experience. My family and I are forever grateful.

Kent Norton

June 20, 2022

Dear Nancy and family,
Janie and I just learned of Dusty's passing. Our hearts are with yours! So sorry this great man has passed, but celebrating his remarkable life and example. Honestly, he's one of my heroes. We ask Heavenly Father to bless and sustain you in every needful way, and we know that you know...the separation is temporary.
"Sometimes people leave you, halfway through the wood...do not let it grieve you, no one leaves for good."
Stephen Sondheim
Much love, from
The Nortons
Kent and Janie

Anne Brown

June 20, 2022

Dusty was such an inspiration and role model for me. I loved any time I got to hear him speak or talk with him directly. One time, many years ago, we were sitting together at dinner. Pearson/Waterford had just announced we had 1Million simultaneous users of the Waterford Early Reading program. I asked him what it felt like to know that there were over 1Million children who used something he created. His answer was that he wasn't done until every child everywhere could read and talked about reaching into the most remote parts of the world so all kids had the same opportunities. A true visionary never rests on his laurels, but looks to the next impact he can have! Dusty Heuston, truly a life well- lived.

Hailey Kuhn

June 20, 2022

It was a great honor to be a part of Waterford Institute under Dusty's leadership and vision. I learned and grew as a professional, an edtech advocate and as an individual there. He created an amazing and beloved learning resource for children that could span barriers of language, time, mindset and geography to equitably prepare them for a lifelong education journey. My condolences to the Heuston Family and my gratitude for their providing me with such a wonderful opportunity to be part of Waterford.

Elizabeth W

June 20, 2022

What a wonderful, visionary man who was dear to my heart. Will add more later: we're trying to ascertain the date of the services that don't seem to be included! thanks

Joanne Weiss

June 20, 2022

Nancy, Kimberley, Kelley, Heather and Benjamin,

I wanted to express my condolences at Dusty´s passing - but what a long and full life he led! My "Dusty stories" are too numerous to recount here, but as you know, he played a huge role in my life - as an educator then as a boss and mentor. It´s safe to say that I would not be what I am today without Dusty in my life. Words cannot express how grateful I am for that. Sending lots of love your way.

Kimberley Sorenson

June 20, 2022

The funeral is scheduled for this coming Saturday, June 25. I apologize for my omission.

Kimberley Sorenson

June 20, 2022

The funeral is scheduled for this Saturday, June 25. I apologize for my omission.

S Bishop

June 20, 2022

Dustin Heuston was my favorite professor at BYU. He was very helpful and kind and I learned to like writing.

Victor Bunderson

June 19, 2022

His passing has hit me strongly, and the truth and beauty of Nancy's words.
I was privileged to share key years with him and our families at key junctures in both of our family's lives -- the founding of Wicat and Waterford school and institute in Provo. These families will both continue and make contributions to education and other areas after his impassioned and effective example.

Showing 1 - 24 of 24 results