Howard Moench

Dr. Howard Christopher Moench, MD, 79, of Spicewood, Texas, physician and owner of Stone House Vineyard, died Tuesday, July 7, 2015, at his home. Born on July 4, 1936 in Springfield, MA, Dr. Moench grew up in southern California. He graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts and from USC with a Doctorate of Medicine. Dr. Moench established the Department of Radiation Oncology at Park Plaza Hospital in Houston, a medical practice he directed for over 35 years.

In 1997, Dr. Moench and his wife, Angela, founded Stone House Vineyard in Spicewood, Texas, on the shore of Lake Travis, where they have produced a unique, award-winning wine, Claros. Howard's architectural flair and commitment to beauty are evident in the construction of his home and winery, much of which he designed himself. His devotion to quality drove him to build a winery out of massive 2,000-pound limestone blocks, an iconic structure now in the Texas Hill Country. As much philosopher as physician, he was known to engage frequent dinner guests in sprawling conversation ranging from ancient Greek poetry to modern American abstractionism. Above all else, he was a sensitive, loving, and sympathetic man, both to his patients and his family.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Angela; brother Oliver Moench of California; sister Ruth Decarie of California; sons Boris Moench of Germany and Russell Moench of Tokyo, Japan; daughter Carole Ann Moench Fong of New York; grandson Simon Fong of New York; step-children Arabella Clauson of Houston and Henry Clauson of Readfield, Maine; and his scheming beagle, Schopenhauer, of Stone House.

A celebration of his life will take place on August 15 at 5:00 pm at Stone House Vineyard, 24350 Haynie Flat Road, Spicewood, Texas 78669. Tel. (512) 264-3630.