Oct. 10 (UPI) — Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, who rose to fame as Loyola-Chicago men’s basketball team chaplain during the 2017-18 Final Four, has died, the school announced. She was 106.
Loyola said Sister Jean, who stepped down from her role in August due to health issues, died Thursday.
“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 in a news release.
“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 in 1919, was touted as the Ramblers’ top fan throughout the 2017-18 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. She watched the Ramblers, a No. 11 seed, upset No. 6 Miami in the first round. The Ramblers proceeded to oust No. 3 Tennessee in the second round and No. 7 Nevada in the Sweet 16. They beat No. 9 Kansas State in the Elite Eight to continue their unexpected surge to the Final Four.
The Ramblers run ended with a 69-57 loss the No. 3 Michigan. The Wolverines went on to lose to top-seeded Villanova in the national title game.
Sister Jean was one of the most trending topics of the tournament and was featured on fast-selling merchandise, including shirts that included her motto,”Worship, Work, Win,” and bobbleheads of her likeness.
The Ramblers went on to two additional NCAA tournament appearances over the last five seasons, including a Sweet 16 run in 2020-21, when she still provided spiritual support and advice to players.
“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.”
Sister Jean joined the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1937. She taught at schools in Chicago and California before joining the Chicago Lake Shore Campus in 1961 at Mundelein College, which affiliated with Loyola in 1991.
She was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.
Loyola plans to announce visitation and funeral arrangements at a later date.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.