Sister Jean, Loyola Chicago's iconic superfan and team chaplain, retires at 106

Loyola University Chicago’s longtime campus figure Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt has retired, ending a more than half-century association with the Ramblers. The 106-year-old member of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary stepped back from official duties weeks after celebrating her milestone birthday, Loyola confirmed. The university said she is no longer able to be physically present on campus but remains a beloved friend, trusted advisor and loyal Rambler.

Christian Andersen, Loyola’s vice president of communications, told The Loyola Phoenix that the school is mindful of Sister Jean’s privacy regarding health and could not comment beyond what was shared in her August message. In that note, President Mark C. Reed described her as someone who is “no longer able to be physically present on campus” but who remains a cherished presence in the Loyola community. The public recognition of her retirement comes after decades of service to Loyola Chicago, including more than 25 years as the official team chaplain for the men’s basketball program.

Sister Jean, a native of San Francisco who joined the Loyola system through its broader network of Catholic education, began teaching at Mundelein College in Chicago in 1961. Over the years, she held a string of administrative roles, including acting dean, director of summer sessions, director of Coffey Hall, associate dean, director of academic services and ultimately vice president for academic affairs before Mundelein’s integration with Loyola in 1991. Her connection to Loyola’s basketball program began earlier, and she became the official team chaplain in 1996, a role that brought her to the public eye with a level of visibility rarely afforded to campus figures.

In 2018, Sister Jean rose to national prominence during Loyola Chicago’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament run. She appeared courtside, led a team prayer in the locker room and cheered the Ramblers from a wheelchair, becoming a symbol of faith, perseverance and communal spirit as Loyola advanced to the Final Four. The Ramblers’ magical run culminated in a Final Four appearance, even as they fell to Michigan 69-57 in the semifinals. The moment helped turn Sister Jean into a household name beyond campus traditions, a status she embraced as a source of inspiration for students and fans alike. That year, she also joined Loyola’s on-court rituals at various milestones and public events, reinforcing her role as a living bridge between Loyola’s athletic and academic missions.

Beyond her on-court persona, Sister Jean’s influence extended into the broader culture of Loyola Chicago. In 2018 she threw the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day at Wrigley Field, a gesture that underscored her status as a unique ambassador for the university. She continued to be a fixture in university life, sharing wisdom through speaking engagements and, in 2023, publishing Wake Up with Purpose! What I’ve Learned in My First 100 Years. The book offered reflections drawn from a century of experience and reinforced her role as a spiritual and motivational figure for Loyola students and alumni alike. The publication was highlighted in Loyola-related communications, and she received recognition from national figures, including an official proclamation from President Joe Biden, as reported by Loyola Phoenix.

Despite the public attention that followed her every appearance, Sister Jean maintained her focus on service and mentorship. University officials described her as a trusted adviser and a loyal Rambler who continued to inspire through quiet presence and steady encouragement, even as health concerns and the demands of age framed the scope of her public duties. Her leadership style—steady, compassionate and deeply rooted in faith—became a touchstone for many within Loyola Chicago’s community, offering a counterpoint to the high intensity of college basketball while staying true to the school’s values and traditions.

In the years since Loyola’s historic 2018 run, Sister Jean’s presence became synonymous with the Ramblers’ identity. While her appearances at campus events grew more limited, her legacy persisted in the way students and staff spoke of mentorship, encouragement and the power of a steadfast cheerleader who believed in the value of education and faith-based service. The August update indicating she would no longer be physically present on campus marked a formal transition, even as administrators said she would continue to be remembered as an integral part of Loyola Chicago’s story.

As the university navigates the next chapter of its athletic and academic programs, leadership stressed that Sister Jean’s privacy would be respected and that the school would honor her legacy while carefully managing future public appearances. In a statement accompanying Reed’s message, Loyola acknowledged the need to balance public duties with the realities of health and wellness for someone who has given so much to the university and its community. The weight of her influence remains evident in alumni networks, campus lore and the ongoing eagerness of fans to recall the moments when a 100-year-old nun became a symbol of resilience for a basketball program that had long chased national attention.

The images below capture moments in Sister Jean’s public life that underscored her connection to Loyola Chicago and its fans.

As the school acknowledges the end of an era, it also recognizes the ongoing value of Sister Jean’s example. Her career spanned a period of significant growth for Loyola Chicago, from its trajectory as a Midwest university with strong ties to its Marianist heritage to a nationally recognized basketball program that could stand at the center of a university-wide celebration—an achievement that will continue to be part of Loyola’s collective memory. Her retirement is described as a step back from official duties rather than a step away from the lives she touched, with administrators indicating that she will remain a symbolic presence for students, alumni and Ramblers supporters who continue to carry forward her spirit of service and faith.

What comes next for Sister Jean remains private, in line with the family’s wishes and the university’s careful handling of health disclosures. For Loyola Chicago, the quieter end of an era may herald a renewed emphasis on the values she embodied and the role of faith and mentorship within the university’s culture. While the public chapters of her life may pause, the stories of Sister Jean—of a woman who stood at the center of Ramblers’ history and who inspired generations with her faith and optimism—will endure in the lore of Loyola Chicago and in the hearts of those who followed her journey for more than half a century.