Roi Saundra Holt, 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 earned 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, 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 Victim Assistance Program (VAP), revolutionizing victim support services and ensuring compliance with federal laws. Her tireless efforts paved the way for a highly successful program, helping to recruit and train nine full-time victim specialists to serve victims on Tribal lands where the Bureau of Indian Affairs provided law enforcement services.
Her passion for empowering Native American communities on a national level was truly inspiring. 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’s 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. May her memory be a blessing and her legacy endure for generations to come.