Marc Ashton

Marc “Butch” Ashton was born in Washington, D.C. and arrived in Haiti as an infant, after his father, Horace Dade Ashton, became cultural attaché to the United States Embassy. His father, traveled widely for many years before he became entranced with a beautiful young Yugoslavian woman whom he later married. When Marc's older brother, John Burdette Ashton was expected, the family moved from Europe to the United States. However, Horace Ashton could not resist President Franklin D. Roosevelt's request to serve his country, and he graciously moved his family to Haiti.

The Ashton home was multilingual and multicultural, and Marc benefitted from its many houseguests. As an infant, he learned to speak Creole, and he is fluent in English and French. His ability to speak several languages, his creativity, organizational skills, and intelligence served Marc well as he founded a nightclub, resorts, a travel agency, an airline, and several agro-industrial businesses in his adopted homeland. He also found a beautiful bride with whom he started a lovely family that continues to grow and thrive. One hallmark of Marc's personality is that he treated all he knew with respect, whether they were government officials or the peasants who dwelled in the Haitian countryside. His employees received free lunches, free healthcare, and more than three times the minimum wage.

However, life in Haiti changed during the 60-year period that he lived on the island. Although he loved it there, he and his wife realized it was time to retire. They planned to split their time between Florida and Haiti, but these plans were waylaid after they decided to sell their family home and Marc was kidnapped.

Marc now lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where he is involved in the community and serves as president of his homeowners’ association. He remains active in Haitian-American relations and hopes to see his beloved island restored to its former glory one day.