Roll Call Tribute

Vernon S. "Stacy" Holt 

July 4, 1956 - November 19, 2024 

Vernon Stacy Holt (“Stacy”) came into this world on July 4, 1956 in Dallas, Texas, accompanied by fireworks. He was the beloved youngest child of Bobby and Jean Holt, adored by his sister Sandy and brother Steve. Stacy lived large and loved deeply, and cherished his wife Becky Austen and daughters Emma and Leah. He left us too soon on November 19, 2024 in Austin, Texas, facing off a brief bout of pancreatic cancer with fortitude and grace.

Stacy grew up in Dallas and attended Bryan Adams High School. Stacy was a proud Aggie, graduating from Texas A&M University in 1979 with a major in English and History. He continued his graduate studies at A&M and always held a place in his heart for the English department. He loved Aggie traditions and football rivalries; anyone wearing an Aggie ring was an instant friend.

Stacy worked for IBM for over three decades. He started as a technical writer and continually challenged himself to try new things, with stints in software testing, development and management. Along the way Stacy served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and worked at CyBerCorp, a day trading software startup.

Stacy was a lifelong Texan, but mysterious forces in the universe brought him to Raleigh, NC in 1984, where he met Becky on her first day at IBM. Stacy introduced her to queso and dropped a mixtape at her doorstep, starting a relationship built on a profound love and trust that lasted forty years. Stacy and Becky married in 1988 and moved to Austin. Becky had many cats and gave them proper names; Stacy called them all Kitty. Emma and Leah completed the family, and Stacy was a devoted father, raising his daughters on quirky movies and TV shows, the best strategies for conquering Disney parks, and how to be courageous and kind.

Stacy loved music and had vast collections of albums and CDs. He played guitar, took fiddle and drum lessons, and learned banjo and mandolin, attending bluegrass camps and jams. He frequented clubs in his early Austin days and went to many concerts and festivals, with New Orleans Jazz Fest a perennial favorite. Becky learned the bass and joined several bands, and Stacy attended gigs as her roadie and ardent fan. He taught his kids all the genres, knew countless obscure musical references, and had an enviable assortment of rock-n-roll t-shirts.

The family traveled extensively, and Stacy had a particular fondness for Scotland and Hawaii. Stacy threw himself into learning Spanish in his retirement, attending classes and immersion programs, booking online conversations, and watching endless videos. Through this, Stacy and Becky discovered the unique culture and beauty of Mexico and its people, traveling there six times in the last two years. When Emma and Leah settled in Massachusetts, Stacy enjoyed going there to seek out the best lobster rolls, pick apples, and see the Red Sox at Fenway. Becky had a knack for getting off the beaten track and hopelessly lost during trips, but Stacy’s keen sense of direction always got them back on course.

Stacy savored spicy food, and sampled tacos everywhere in search of the perfect one. He had a weekly lunch ritual at Hoody’s sub shop, was very particular about his cut of BBQ brisket, and had a distinct habit of cutting a hole in the center of his pancakes to contain the syrup.

Stacy loved being outdoors and active. He was passionate about bass fishing, always tinkering with his boat and amassing a multitude of rods, lures and gear. He was drawn to the stillness of being on the water before dawn, and the camaraderie with his fishing buddies. He became an area chief with Texas Parks & Wildlife and an angler education instructor, teaching the next generation to love fishing as much as he did. Stacy learned to skate and play ice hockey, always working to hone his skills; his highlight was skating with The Great One at Gretzky hockey camp. He briefly played rugby, and kept his mind sharp with online chess. He enjoyed golf over his lifetime, especially with his dad. He mostly savored the simple pleasure of neighborhood walks with Becky.

Stacy’s memory lives on in the hearts of all who loved and were loved by him. Stacy is survived by his wife Becky, daughters Emma and Leah, sister Sandy and niece Melanie, and preceded in death by his parents Bobby and Jean and brother Steve. A private celebration of Stacy’s life will be held with family and friends.