ANN ARBOR, MI -- Years ago in Ann Arbor, an Iranian expat repaired part of my piano. Ahmad lived and worked in the basement of an apartment building on the leafy University of Michigan campus. His "space" was lined with musty old books and funky metal filing cabinets. An oscillating fan, a hot plate, and a dead computer were the only signs of life in the room.

Once upon a time this big bear of a man and his...