Sister Jean, beloved member of Loyola University Chicago community, dies at 106

Video above: Sister Jean on Loyola Ramblers’ trip to the Big Dance

CHICAGO (WGN) – Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, a beloved and iconic member of the Loyola University Chicago community who was well-known as the chaplain to the Loyola University men’s basketball team, died Thursday at the age of 106, according to the university.

Sister Jean became an international celebrity during Loyola’s magical 2018 run to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. It was the Ramblers’ first time in the Final Four since their historic 1963 national championship season.

“In many roles at Loyola over the course of more than 60 years, Sister Jean was an invaluable source of wisdom and grace for generations of students, faculty, and staff,” Loyola President Mark C. Reed said. “While we feel grief and a sense of loss, there is great joy in her legacy. Her presence was a profound blessing for our entire community and her spirit abides in thousands of lives. In her honor, we can aspire to share with others the love and compassion Sister Jean shared with us.” 

Sister Jean, born Dolores Bertha Schmidt on Aug. 21, 1919, joined the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1937. She took the name Sister Jean Dolores.

A native of San Francisco, she taught at several Catholic schools in both Chicago and California before first coming to the Lake Shore Campus in 1961 to teach at Mundelein College where she held numerous roles over the next 30 years until the school affiliated with Loyola in 1991.

In 1994, Sister Jean became an academic advisor with the men’s basketball team and later transitioned to team chaplain.

“Sister Jean Dolores was a woman of prayer, dedicated educator, and a bearer of hope who loved her BVM Community,” BVM President LaDonna Manternach said. “She saw God present in all that surrounded her and trusted in His goodness. Her presence with us will be greatly missed.”

In addition to her work with the basketball program, Sister Jean held weekly prayer groups for students and started a program called SMILE (Students Moving Into the Lives of the Elderly), which paired Loyola students with residents of The Clare, an assisted living community on the Water Tower Campus that Sister Jean called home for years.

She was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 and was awarded the Sword of Loyola in 2018.

Throughout her career, Sister Jean was recognized by church and world leaders for her joy and service.

She received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis for her 100th birthday and at her 103rd birthday celebration, which was held on Aug. 21, 2022, the Loyola CTA Red Line plaza was renamed in her honor.

On that day, Sister Jean received proclamations from both Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot dedicating the day in her honor.

She published her memoir “Wake Up with Purpose!: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years” in February of 2023.

On her 105th birthday, Sister Jean received a proclamation from then-President Joe Biden in recognition of her lifetime of service.

More information can be found here.