The Loyola University Chicago community and basketball fans across the nation are mourning the loss of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, the spirited nun who became a global sensation as the team’s beloved chaplain. Sister Jean died on October 9, 2025, at the age of 106, leaving behind a legacy of faith, enthusiasm, and unyielding support for the Ramblers.
Loyola University Chicago on X (formerly Twitter): “Loyola University Chicago is greatly saddened to confirm the death of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM. This is a tremendous loss of someone who touched the lives of so many people. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts & prayers during this difficult time. Details to follow. pic.twitter.com/zPiMY1MsIu / X”
Loyola University Chicago is greatly saddened to confirm the death of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM. This is a tremendous loss of someone who touched the lives of so many people. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts & prayers during this difficult time. Details to follow. pic.twitter.com/zPiMY1MsIu
Born Dolores Bertha Schmidt on August 21, 1919, in San Francisco, California, she joined the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1937, adopting the name Sister Jean Dolores. Her early career took her to Catholic schools in Chicago and California, where she dedicated herself to education. In 1961, she arrived at Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus to teach at Mundelein College, serving in various roles for three decades until its affiliation with Loyola in 1991. Over her 88 years with the BVM community, Sister Jean touched countless lives through her teaching, prayer groups, and innovative programs like SMILE (Students Moving Into the Lives of the Elderly), which connected Loyola students with seniors at The Clare assisted living community.
Sister Jean’s path to national fame began in 1994 when she became an academic advisor for the Loyola men’s basketball team, later evolving into the role of team chaplain. From the sidelines, she offered spiritual guidance, practical advice, and infectious energy, cheering the Ramblers with her signature clipboard and towel. Her star rose meteorically during the 2018 NCAA March Madness tournament, when the No. 11-seeded Ramblers made a Cinderella run to the Final Four—their first since the 1963 national championship. At 98 years old, Sister Jean captivated audiences with her pre-game prayers and post-win celebrations, spawning merchandise like “Worship, Work, Win” T-shirts and bobbleheads.
The tournament thrust her into the spotlight, with appearances on late-night shows, cameos in ads, and even a memoir co-authored with Seth Davis, Wake Up with Purpose!: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years, published in 2023. Honors poured in: induction into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017, the Sword of Loyola in 2018, an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis for her centennial, and proclamations from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (who renamed a CTA plaza in her honor for her 103rd birthday), and President Joe Biden for her 105th. Just last month, Sister Jean retired after decades of service, residing at The Clare on Loyola’s Water Tower Campus until her peaceful passing.
Loyola President Mark C. Reed reflected on her profound impact: “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. 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.”
BVM President LaDonna Manternach added, “Sister Jean Dolores was a woman of prayer, dedicated educator, and a bearer of hope who loved her BVM Community. She saw God present in all that surrounded her and trusted in His goodness. Her presence with us will be greatly missed.”
Preceded in death by her parents and brothers Edward and Raymond Schmidt, Sister Jean is survived by her sister-in-law Margaret Schmidt, nieces, nephews, and her BVM sisters. Visitation and funeral details will be announced by the university soon.
Sister Jean’s life embodied joy amid adversity, faith in action, and a reminder that age is no barrier to passion. As the Ramblers prepare for the season ahead, her spirit—clipboard in hand—will undoubtedly linger on the court, inspiring a new generation to worship, work, and win.
