Michael was the first person that I ever met and climbed with through SummitPost. He had a great outlook on life and had perfected the climbing lifestyle. It's very sad to hear of someone who has passed. But it is reassuring that it happened on his own terms during the pursuit of his nirvana.
I remember a post he made here, telling himself to 'sack up' and make difficult moves on a route on Wall Street. He did, and then broke his ankle. Conquering fear is a dangerous thing to do, but for most of us the rewards while living are worth the risk of death. Good luck on your next big adventure, Mike.