Microsoft Pioneer Employee Bequeaths 65 million to LGBT & AIDS groups

(KATU)

Try this more in depth article in the Seattle Times (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004197961_weiland24.html)

Ric Weiland, an early pioneer employee, high school classmate of Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen recently died and bequeathed 65 million of his 160 million dollar estate to various LGBT organizations which include The Pride Foundation of the Pacific Northwest, HIV/AIDS groups, including Lambda Legal; the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays; the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation; and Amfar, and the Foundation for AIDS Research.

Weiland who was Microsoft's first software developer had a history of depression. His death was a suicide at age 53 in 2006. He left behind his partner Mike Schaeffer. Three other close family members members had died previous to his own death. This included his father, mother, and a sister.

"He was a member of the Pride Foundation's board of directors from 1997 to 2002, and helped win the foundation's fight to get General Electric Co. to include sexual orientation in their non-discriminatory policy, Haberman said.

"He really understood ... the range of issues that strengthen the gay community," she said. "He will be tremendously missed, just because of who he was. ... Everyone who met him always liked him." SeattlePi.com