Jaco is still reeling from the apparent suicide of one of their favorite local residents and businessmen, Marc Pontbriant. Marc radiated energy and a love for life, and his girlfriend and friends are having difficulty accepting the tragic fact that he is gone. He died on May 3, in his bed in Esterillios, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He left his passport, wallet and contact list at his side. His good friend Matt Cantrell found the body after Marc’s girlfriend Urieta Fernandez notified him that Marc had not returned home the night before. His note said, “I no longer have the fight to go on.” Marc was only 42 years old.

In an interview with The Star, Cantrell said of Marc, “Marc left a Mark on your life. He was the kindest, funniest, warmest, most genuine and generous people you could hope to meet in this world.” These sentiments were echoed by all Marc’s friends and business associates, who told of Marc dropping everything to help out a friend in trouble – or a stray animal in need. Cantrell described how the two of them had climbed Central America’s tallest mountain, Chirripo, together after a four-day rain storm, bear crawling up the mountain through the mud – laughing. He said it was “the best worst hike of our lives.” Other friends told of similar adventures, all made much more fun by the company of Marc Pontbriant. Jaco will miss him for years to come.
Marc was a successful entrepreneur and businessman in Jaco. He had a beautiful girlfriend, many devoted friends, an active social life, seemingly no financial troubles – what happened?

According to World Aware: Expat Depression, “Traffic accidents are the leading cause of non-natural death for US citizens in foreign countries. The third highest cause of non-natural death is suicide. Similar to depression, suicidal individuals can appear to be perfectly fine while suffering great emotional pain.” This was clearly the case with Pontbriant, who never hinted to family or friends that he was in trouble.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held by Marc’s friends next week, place and time to be announced on Marc’s Facebook page. Urieta has gone to stay with her family on the Caribbean side of the country – she is having great difficulty imagining life without Marc. They were both a couple, and worked side by side at Costa Rica Gurus.
Cantrell is handling the business and properties while things get settled at Costa Rica Gurus. Pontbriant’s will has yet to be found.

The OIJ processed the death scene, the Medical Examiner performed an autopsy, and the cause of death has been ruled a suicide. Marc was cremated in Heredia, and his ashes will be taken to his parents in Massachusetts for a memorial service there.
Marc’s motto was, “Tall mountains may be hard to climb, but the view from the top is always worth it.”
His friends all hope that he now has the best view in the universe.

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