CHICAGO — Loyola University’s iconic Sister Jean has died. She was 106.
Sister Jean, who died Thursday, retired last month after decades championing the school. She became a nationally known figure as she worked the sidelines at Loyola basketball games as the men’s basketball team chaplain.
Sister Jean was born Dolores Bertha Schmidt on Aug. 21, 1919, in San Francisco, according to Loyola. From a young age, she knew she wanted to devote her life to religion.
In 1938, Jean became a member of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and took on the name Sister Jean Dolores. She joined Mundelein College, Loyola’s now-defunct sister school, in 1961 to teach and remained there when the school was bought by Loyola University.
Jean became the Loyola men’s basketball team chaplain in 1996. As chaplain, she supported the athletes through prayer and advice both on and off the court, and became a beloved figure to the entire school community.
Sister Jean’s international fame came during the men’s basketball team’s historic run in the 2018 NCAA March Madness tournament, which ended with a loss in the Final Four. She was continually featured on nationally televised coverage of the Ramblers’ games, getting shout-outs from luminaries like Chicago native and former President Barack Obama.
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