Antonio Cesar Alfredo Moure Abelleira was born to Angel Moure Gomez and Generosa Abelleira Freire in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain on January 21, 1928.  Following a brief illness, he died peacefully at his home in Carmel, California in the company of his children on May 7, 2025.  Tony, fifthborn, had five siblings, Angel, Benedicto, Beatrice, Lolita, and Gerardo, all of whom preceded him in death – the last, Beatrice, by just a few days.

Tony was raised and educated in Galicia, receiving his medical degree at Universidad de Santiago de Compostela in 1952.  After a year of Spanish military service, Tony began his post-graduate medical training in Paris, ultimately completing his general surgery internship at Nottingham General Hospital, England.  There he met the love of his life and future wife, Jean Buchanan Smith, also a medical student.

In 1957 Tony and Jean emigrated to the United States, choosing Houston, Texas as their new home, where Tony undertook his residency in neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine. The couple married in 1959 and continued their training, including for Tony a fellowship at Hermann Hospital, eventually establishing their private practices in adjacent offices.  In addition to his private neurosurgical practice, Tony was one of the original founders of Park Plaza Hospital, where he was chief of neurosurgery.  He also held teaching positions at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston.

The couple had three children, Carmen, Charles, and Arthur, and embarked on an extraordinarily busy and productive life, both personally and professionally.  Upon his first visit home after emigrating, with his wife and three children in tow, Tony was greeted as a celebrity in Santiago de Compostela, with the local newspaper publishing a profile that included a family photo.  Over the years Jean and Tony spent many happy vacations, and a large part of their retirement, visiting extended family in England and Spain, eventually purchasing a piso in A Coruna that has remained a favorite visiting place for the whole family.

Tony was always larger than life – a personality who filled a whole room and charmed all who met him.  He savored life and all it offered – good food, fine wine (especially champagne!), a beautiful view, a good golf game, the company of family and friends – and made the most of his many years.  Having abandoned an early aspiration to play professional Spanish football in favor of his medical studies, he enjoyed tennis and golf, both watching and playing. Despite being a native Spaniard, Tony amused his family by rooting for Federer over Nadal.  As a Houston neurosurgeon, he had the opportunity to assist professional golfer Lee Trevino; a commemorative signed photograph of them together remained a prized possession all his life.

Upon their retirement, Jean and Tony moved part time to Carmel, California where they joined the Monterey Peninsula Country Club, enjoying many years of exceptional golfing and competitive bridge tournaments.  Tony ultimately became one of the club’s oldest actively golfing members, still out on the course at age 96.  He particularly appreciated the support and friendship of his favorite golf pro Geoff Bisi.  He was a proud member of the “Monday Walkers” who eschewed golf carts despite the well-known demands of the course.  Joyous family celebrations were held at MPCC including many birthday gatherings and a rehearsal dinner.  His enthusiastic appreciation for bubbly earned him the nickname “Champagne Tony” among the MPCC staff and members.

Tony’s vision for a garden oasis in Carmel was achieved over the course of more than thirty years with the consistent and positive support of Lupe Raygoza whose hard work and friendship, along with that of his wife Maria, greatly enhanced Jean and Tony’s life throughout their retirement.  The garden flourished and became the home of chickens, pigeons, and quail.  All manner of flowers in bloom and productive trees provide a welcoming home for wild birds, and a walk in the garden was one of Tony’s greatest pleasures.

The family wishes to acknowledge the extraordinary care that Tony received in his final year from a team of dedicated caregivers: Jennifer Acilo, Gerrylyn Reyes, April Nodora, Jhonive Marquez, and Hannah Navalon.  They provided the around-the-clock skilled care that allowed Tony to remain active and in his home, in a deeply caring and thoughtful way.  We are forever grateful.

The most defining element of Tony’s long life was undoubtedly his love for and partnership with Jean.  In their medical practices, raising their children, real estate investments, being partners at tennis and bridge, and choosing their retirement path they always took each other as their guiding light and balanced each other out.  Jean’s long illness led the couple to apply their combined medical acumen and remarkable persistence to seeking out treatments that extended her life by several years.  Her loss almost ten years ago left a hole in Tony’s heart that would never be filled.

Tony is survived by his children Carmen Knapp (John) of Houston, Charles Moure (Helen) of Seattle, and Arthur Moure of San Francisco and by his four grandchildren: Thomas Antonio Knapp, Jonathan Winston Knapp, Cecilia Rose Moure, and Isobel Caroline Moure.

Burial beside his beloved Jean will be a private family ceremony at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.  The family requests no flowers.