A Loyola Icon with an Enduring Legacy, Sister Jean Dies at 106
CHICAGO—Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, a beloved member of the Loyola University Chicago community and iconic chaplain to the Loyola men’s basketball team, died on October 9, 2025, at the age of 106.
Though long known for her many roles on Loyola’s campus, Sister Jean became an international celebrity during the 2018 NCAA “March Madness” tournament, accompanying the Loyola Ramblers as they reached the Final Four for the first time since their historic 1963 national championship season. Sister Jean cheered the team on from the sidelines that season and for all the years in between, so her presence as the team’s chaplain in 2018 at the age of 98 captured the attention of the media, and she became one of the most talked-about topics of the tournament. Sister Jean merchandise also sold swiftly, including t-shirts bearing her motto of “Worship, Work, Win” and bobblehead figures made in her likeness.
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