Roi Saundra Holt Obituary (1942 - 2024)

Roi Saundra Holt, aged 81, passed away on April 25, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Enumclaw, Washington, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Born on October 24, 1942, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Roi was the daughter of Dana Elizabeth and Lester Glace Blake. Roi changed her name in honor of her maternal grandfather, Roy Holt. Roi's journey was one of unwavering dedication, marked by a profound commitment to service and advocacy. After serving in the Marines, she pursued higher education, earning a bachelor's degree in social science. Among her many passions, Roi found solace and purpose in quilting with Hands Touching Hearts and volunteering with the USO at the airport, extending support to active-duty military members. However, it was her dedication to victim assistance and advocacy that truly defined her legacy. Roi's pioneering spirit led her to create the first Department of the Interior (DOI) Victim Assistance Program (VAP), revolutionizing victim support services and ensuring compliance with federal laws. Her tireless efforts paved the way for a truly successful program, with nine full-time victim specialists recruited and trained to serve victims on lands managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Her passion for empowering Native American communities on a national level was unparalleled. Roi identified underserved reservations in the Southwest and secured funding to provide vital support to those in need. Through her strategic planning and collaboration with key stakeholders, she enhanced interaction and collaboration with agencies such as the Indian Health Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Attorneys, ensuring that victims in Indian Country received the support they deserved. In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, Roi was honored with the Federal Crime Victim Service Award in 2012, a testament to her enduring legacy of compassion. Roi was preceded in death by her grandparents, Roy and Mary Holt, and her parents, Dana and Lester Blake. She is survived by her brothers, Dan and Lance Weigel; her cousin, MaryBeth Marraccini; her children, Calvin Nordstrom and Wendy Sigel; and her grandchildren, Conner and Issac Sigel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) at www.nicwa.org, continuing Roi's passion for supporting and empowering indigenous communities. Though Roi has passed away, her spirit of compassion, service, and advocacy will continue to inspire and uplift all those whose lives she touched. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. May her memory be a blessing and her legacy endure for generations to come.