Richard Douglas Holt

Richard Douglas Holt of Livermore died April 5. He was 72.

Holt was born on Oct. 31, 1941 in Greensboro, N.C., to Palmer and Lois Holt. He earned his bachelor's degree in engineering (physics and mathematics) from the University of Michigan. Upon finishing college, he joined the Peace Corps as a volunteer where he was assigned to the Philippines from 1964-67. He taught physics at Ramon Magsaysay High School in Quezon City of greater Manila. There he met Raquel Villa, a music teacher, whom he married. In his second year, he became an instructor in physics and calculus at the newly founded Mindanao State University, located in the southernmost part of the Philippine Islands, to help relieve Filipino instructors who were going to the United States for further studies. While there, he also helped a visiting professor of the Ford Foundation set up the physics program. After his Peace Corps term, he returned to the United States and enrolled at Polytechnic University at Brooklyn, N.Y. where he earned his master's in electrical engineering.

Holt worked as a computer scientist for the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for 22 years until his retirement in 2004. At LLNL, Holt was a training management group leader for the Computer Operations division and then a information systems security officer where he was responsible for compliance within the areas of computer security. Previous to LLNL, he worked as systems engineer for Control Data Corporation at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y., and as senior customer engineer for Control Data Corporation at Raytheon Missile Systems division at Bedford, Mass.

Holt enjoyed classical and Broadway music. In 1992, he and his wife, along with three others, founded the Livermore Valley Opera, a regional opera company that continues to contribute to the arts in the community. He also liked acting and dancing and appeared as part of the cast in several musical productions at Las Positas College.

Holt is predeceased by his parents, Palmer and Lois Holt. He is survived by his wife, Raquel, of 45 years; son, Anthony; daughter, Kimberly (Brett) Lamb; grandsons, Torin and Xavier; brother, David; nephew, Mark; and nieces, Wendy and Heather.

Funeral service will be private.