Yes and yes.  I'm Shi'a (my wife and I are the only ones in Anchorage so far as I know), and Sheikh 'Ali has been my beloved friend for nearly a quarter-century.  Raised Catholic in Buffalo, NY, from a devout family (was a former choirboy), but Allah had Mercy on him, IIRC, during the Vietnam war.  He's a highly respected scholar among Shi'a and many Sunni both here and abroad.  He's a close friend and compatriot of Al-Ayatulllah al-Qazwini, who until returning to Iraq about three years ago was the only Ayatullah living in the US.  His sons are still here, two of whom are friends of mine.  Allahumma saali alaa Muhammadan wa alaa Ah'lii Muhammad.