Family tradition
by Nathaniel Miller
Steve Chiscano (J.D. ’97) may know more about San Antonio’s history and its ties to Spain than anyone else.
His love for the city runs deep: he served as president of the San Antonio Bar Association and as chairman of the board of the Historical Centre Foundation, formed to preserve San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio.
His father, renowned heart surgeon Alfonso Chiscano, M.D., originally from the Canary Islands, chose San Antonio as his home after learning about the city and San Fernando’s historical ties to his home country, and worked incessantly to increase awareness of that connection.
Steve Chiscano has continued his father’s work while carving out his own path in law and preserving the influence of Canary Islanders on San Antonio’s history.
“For my dad, being a Canary Islander, it made sense for him to go to a place where his people showed up hundreds of years ago and began an entire civil government system that we enjoy today,” Chiscano said.
More than a test score
After double majoring in International Business and Spanish at The University of Texas at Austin, Chiscano will be the first to tell you his LSAT scores could have been better when applying for law school.
He petitioned the St. Mary’s School of Law dean at the time for a meeting. He finally got his chance.
“I knew if I could get in there and get some time, I would be able to put my best foot forward,” he said.
Chiscano was placed in a summer preparatory program taught by then-Professor of Law Charles E. Cantú and was fully accepted to start classes in Fall 1994. He made the most of the opportunity. Working as a student clerk throughout law school, Chiscano also participated in the Advocacy Program and received an internship at the Supreme Court of Texas as a third-year J.D. student.
Now practicing commercial law at Gonzalez Chiscano Angulo & Kasson, PC, Chiscano said St. Mary’s taught him how best to break down complex issues.
“Without the tools, without the teachers and without the love that was given to me during my time at St. Mary’s, I wouldn’t have a law practice, and I wouldn’t have the things I do now,” Chiscano said.
Keeping history alive
In the early 2000s, San Fernando Cathedral — home of the law school’s annual Red Mass marking the
start of the judicial year — needed significant repairs.
As a board member and later chair of the board with the organization formed to preserve the cathedral, Chiscano and the group helped raise millions for the campaign.
With every member of his family baptized in the cathedral’s original baptism font brought over from the Canary Islands, this family tradition was only one of many reasons he was eager to help.
“Our family’s name is under one of the stained-glass windows,” Chiscano said. “We’ve supported San Fernando ever since I can remember.”
In 2020, Chiscano was appointed Honorary Consul of Spain in San Antonio by the Spanish government, where he has helped provide diplomatic and counseling services to Spanish citizens in the United States.
Sister Grace Walle, F.M.I., D.Min., the St. Mary’s School of Law Chaplain and organizer of Red Mass, said Chiscano has always been more than willing to help.
In 1997, he and his graduating cohort helped establish the Cantú Fund for the Future, which helps fund the Office of Law Campus Ministry events.
“Steve lives out the Marianist mission through all his involvements in our legal and faith community in San Antonio,” Walle said.
Steve Chiscano (J.D. ’97)“St. Mary’s taught us servant leadership and humility. Sometimes we forget that we should walk humbly through life and be grateful.”
With his name on his practice and a government-issued title, Chiscano said one of the reasons he plans to continue his preservation efforts is because it’s a way to give back to the community.
“St. Mary’s taught us servant leadership and humility,” he said. “Sometimes we forget that we should walk humbly through life and be grateful.”
