Marc Augustin Chretien

Marc Chretien passed away peacefully on June 11, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of Betsy Haines, devoted father to Anna Lisette Chretien and Colette Chretien (Sam), and proud grandfather of Bailey and Arabelle Duker. Marc was born on September 29, 1954 in Washington, DC. He was the second of nine children. During his childhood, the family resided in Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia. As the oldest of five boys, Marc was the ringleader of the Chretien boys, leading them on adventures and, on occasion, into minor mischief.

After graduating from Yorktown High School in Arlington in 1972, Marc enlisted in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne Division, where he earned his “Jump Wings” as a paratrooper. He served a tour of duty at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, where he received the Army Commendation Medal.

After his military service, Marc attended and graduated from Georgetown University as a member of the Class of 1979, with a degree in Philosophy. He then moved to New Hampshire where he graduated from Franklin Pierce School of Law in 1988.

Marc started his own law firm in Manchester, New Hampshire and ran for state office. He was elected to two terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. He was the New Hampshire state director for Senator Bob Dole’s presidential campaign of 1996 and manager of the New Hampshire gubernatorial campaign for Ovide Lamontagne in 1996.

In 1998, Marc returned to the D.C. area. He received a political appointment as Senior Investigative Counsel to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in the U.S. House of Representatives where he served for five years.

Beginning in 2005, Marc was posted in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Department of State for almost eight years. He served as a Senior Advisor to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, helping bridge U.S. diplomatic policy to military actions on the ground. He then served as the Director, Regional Stabilization, in south Afghanistan and then as Senior State Department Advisor to the Commanding General of Marine Forces deployed in Helmand Province.

After leaving government service, Marc and a team of investors founded Mt. Defiance Cidery in Middleburg, Virginia. Marc and another team of investors purchased the Mimslyn Inn in Luray, Virginia. Marc was the managing partner for both properties. Marc was also a partner in Stowe Cider in Stowe, Vermont.

He married Betsy Haines in 2006, their daughter Anna Lisette was born in 2011. His first marriage to Elizabeth Bailey ended in divorce, and produced daughter Colette. Marc is also survived by his eight siblings Gisele, Paul Noel, Justin, Martin, Jeannine, Josette, Nicole, Jacques. Marc was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Marie Chretien and Noella (Bujold) Chretien, and his loyal rescue cat Horton.

Marc was erudite, warm, and humorous. He appreciated fine food and drinks and enjoyed cuisines from all over the world. He loved to host dinners, cooking and telling stories, bringing family and friends together. He was a gifted story teller, always ready with a hilarious or poignant anecdote. He was fond of giving nicknames for those he loved, every family member had one. Marc favored colorful Hawaiian shirts for nearly all occasions, and believed he was never too old to learn or try new things.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to American Cancer Society, Fisher House for Veterans, or Homes For Our Troops. Marc had a special place in his heart for military veterans, forged by his work in Iraq and Afghanistan. In one of his messages from Afghanistan, he said “the bonds formed in combat with your ‘battle buddies’ are the strongest most of us will ever experience.”