Christopher Miles Tousant, 47, passed away on January 24, 2024, in Ennis, Montana, where he had lived for the past three years.
Chris, son of JoAnn and Merle Tousant of Sackets Harbor, New York, grew up in the Syracuse, New York, area and graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School in 1995, where he was an honor student and three-sport athlete.
Chris obtained his undergraduate degree in Business and Managerial Economics from Cornell University in 2000, where he also played on the lacrosse team for four years. While at Cornell, he attended Heidelberg University in Germany for a semester. Chris later obtained a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2018.
After graduating from Cornell, Chris worked at Thompson Financial in New York City. Motivated by a deep-seated sense of service and a long-held desire to fly military aircraft, in 2001, Chris was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. In 2004, he earned his “wings of gold” and was selected as a fighter pilot in the F/A-18 Hornet. During a 14-year active-duty career in the Marines, Chris, call sign “Yardsale,” deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Japan, while visiting many other countries in service to his nation. He was a proud member of the “Bats” of VMFA(AW)-242. A superb flight instructor and tactician, he graduated from the U.S. Navy-Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in 2009. Designated a Forward Air Controller, Chris returned to combat with the 1st Marine Raider Battalion in 2012. He also attended the Marine Corps University at Quantico, Virginia, where he received a Master of Military Studies in Operational Planning, in 2013. Over his multiple combat tours, Chris earned seven Air Medals, the Navy Commendation medal with “V,” and the Combat Action Ribbon, while amassing 432 combat flight hours. Chris continued to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for seven years and retired in 2022, having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Following his retirement from active duty, Chris worked for ASML, where he led engineering teams in developing extreme ultraviolet lithography technology for the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers. For the past four years, Chris worked for Amazon as a senior program manager. Beginning at Amazon Business, he implemented purchasing solutions for federal agencies, state governments, and Fortune 500 companies. He later moved to Amazon Web Services, and most recently implemented Just Walk Out technology retail solutions for major sports venues and stadiums across the globe.
Embracing a passion for travel, Chris explored locations both near and far, ultimately visiting all 50 states and six continents. His sense of adventure never waned, and he enjoyed taking to the highways and fire roads of the West with Andrea Wymore of Bozeman, Montana, in their Revel van, seeking new hikes, breathtaking views, and great food. Trips to nearby Yellowstone National Park were made in all seasons.
Nurturing a natural curiosity and a lifetime of learning, Chris read up on an eclectic mix of topics, including, but not limited to, history, sociology, philosophy, supply chain management, and Winston Churchill, with whom he shared a birthday. Music was a constant companion, and few genres were left off his playlists.
Chris’s love for and loyalty to family, friends, fellow service members and veterans were hallmarks of his character. His infectious laugh, mischievous smile, and sparkling eyes were forces of nature in their own right, and each will always be remembered by those who knew him. He will be missed beyond measure.
Chris is survived by the love of his life, Andrea Wymore, Bozeman, Montana; parents, Merle and JoAnn Tousant, Sackets Harbor, New York; brother, Jeffrey Tousant, Watertown, New York, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, and countless friends. His sister, Jennifer Stahl (Donald), of Fort Mill, South Carolina, passed away Thursday, February 8.
A celebration of life will take place at Dana Point, California, on Saturday, February 24. RSVPs and stories can be shared at bit.ly/3SQrcml.
A memorial service will take place at the First Presbyterian Church of Watertown, New York, on Saturday, April 20. Additional details will be provided at a later time.
Donations should be made to The Honor Foundation, which assists members of the special operations forces community in their transition from the military to the private sector. Contributions can be mailed to 11055 Roselle Street, Ste. 120, San Diego, California 92121. Visit honor.org for more information.
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