The 31-year-old, who moved here in June at the behest of Microsoft's legal team, died from rib, pelvis and other fractures Thursday when a crane crashed into his Bellevue apartment building. Reached at home in Texas, Ammon's father, who had learned shortly before of his son's death, was too distraught to comment.But in photographs, online postings and interviews, a picture emerged of a man who grabbed life with gusto -- a race-car hobbyist who eagerly offered help to other automotive fans, and approached his work as a lawyer with equal zeal. ...

"We were thrilled his past year when we were able to persuade him," said Brad Smith, senior vice president and general counsel at Microsoft. Though Ammon had been on campus only a short time, Smith added, "the impression he made was both a deep and lasting one."