CHICAGO – Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, a nun who became a national sports icon for cheering on the Loyola men’s basketball teams in their NCAA tournaments, died Thursday. the school said. She was 106.
Sister Jean, as everyone on campus and later the sports world knew her, had done that served as team chaplain since 1994 until her retirement this summer. For decades, she was a fixture at Ramblers games, offering pregame prayers with players and fans.
She was adored nationwide As Loyola made a seemingly miraculous Final Four run in 2018, her wheelchair was pushed onto the court after each victory and Loyola players greeted her with soft hugs as they left the floor.
“In many roles at Loyola over more than 60 years, Sister Jean was an invaluable source of wisdom and grace to generations of students, faculty and staff,” Loyola President Mark C. Reed said in a statement. “While we feel sadness and a sense of loss, there is great joy in her legacy. Her presence was a profound blessing to our entire community and her spirit lives on in thousands of lives. In her honor, we can strive to share with others the love and compassion that Sister Jean shared with us.”
Sister Jean lends support to the Loyola men’s basketball players as they leave Gentile Arena after an 83-71 loss to Saint Joseph’s on Feb. 8, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
1 by 11
Sister Jean lends support to the Loyola men’s basketball players as they leave Gentile Arena after an 83-71 loss to Saint Joseph’s on Feb. 8, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
At 6 feet tall, Sister Jean stood out at Loyola games, often wearing a Letterman jacket or a maroon and gold scarf, along with a pair of Nikes. She lived in a dorm on campus and had an office in the student center, where young adults struggling with their studies or homesick often came by for a chat.
She was also competitive.
When former coach Porter Moser was hired in 2011, Sister Jean left an envelope full of scouting reports for him on his desk. She emailed players after games with words of encouragement, as well as advice on how to improve.
She called her 98th year of life ‘nice’. Sports celebrities such as Charles Barkley, Bill Walton and Dick Vitale requested a chance to meet her. She was frequently approached by fans for selfies. She made headlines nationally — and as she was often quick to remind reporters, “internationally” as well — and was interviewed on “Good Morning America” and CNN.
In 2018, Loyola made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1985 and first Final Four since 1963. The Ramblers qualified for the tournament again in 2021 and 2022.
But Sister Jean was no newcomer to the sport.
She was born on August 21, 1919in San Francisco to a family of sports fans. During high school from 1933-37, she played on the girls basketball team. For girls at that time, the field was divided into three sections and only the attackers could shoot.
“I was a very little girl, so I didn’t shoot,” she told the Tribune in February 2018.
In 1939, Sister Jean said, a rule was changed allowing girls to play half court. She became a teacher and coach, and “at noon, at lunch on the playground, I had the boys play against the girls. I told them, ‘I know you have to hold back because you’re playing on the full court, but we have to make our girls strong.’ And they made them strong.”
Sister Jean said she knew she wanted to become a nun in third grade when she was inspired by her teacher. After high school, she left for Iowa to join the convent of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1941, she returned to teach in California, where her students included the children of actor/comedian Bob Hope.
In 1961, she accepted a teaching position at Mundelein College, an all-women’s college near Loyola. She attended athletic events at both schools and drove some Mundelein teams to competitions.
Mundelein merged with Loyola in 1991 and around that time Sister Jean retired from the education department. She told the Tribune she served as a “booster shooter,” monitoring athletes’ studies but not acting as a consultant.
The basketball team chaplain retired and asked to take over the position.
“First and foremost, I wanted to be their friend and definitely encourage them,” she told the Tribune. “They know they can talk to me whenever they want.”
Sister Jean missed some games during her tenure as chaplain, but was sidelined for nine home games during the 2017-18 season after breaking her hip. Even in the hospital, she followed the games online and sent players an email.
She insisted on traveling with the Ramblers to watch them win that season’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament in St. Louis, then headed to the NCAA tournament sites of Dallas, Atlanta and San Antonio.
Shortly before her 99th birthday the following August, Sister Jean said she had a health issue with her right leg.
Her birthday was attended by students, athletic staff and coaches from the campus student center. Her cake contained 99 candles and Moser presented her with a Ramblers No. 99 jersey.
Sister Jean celebrated her 100th birthday in 2019.
Her secret to a long life?
“I eat well and sleep well,” she said at the time. “And hopefully I pray well.”
Shannon Ryan is a former Chicago Tribune sportswriter.
Originally published:
#Sister #Jean #Dolores #Schmidt #Beloved #Nun #Inspired #Loyolas #NCAA #Tournaments #Dies