Jean Doloroes Bertha Schmidt, best known to college basketball fans as Sister Jean of Loyola University Chicago, has died, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. She was 106 years old.
Jean Doloroes Bertha Schmidt, best known to college basketball fans as Sister Jean of Loyola University Chicago, has died, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. She was 106 years old.
Sister Jean grew to international prominence during the 2018 men’s NCAA basketball tournament, when the Ramblers defied the odds in a Cinderella run to the Final Four. She served as the chaplain of that team, and it was a memory that she never wanted to forget.
“I live that time over and over again, it was just so fun,” Sister Jean told the Chicago Sun-Times in 2024.
She was sought after by national and international media alike, received her own merchandise such as her own bobblehead and threw out numerous first pitches for the Chicago Cubs.
But for Sister Jean, fame and attention always came secondary to what she felt was one of her main priorities in life: talking with young people.
“I love life so much and enjoy being with young people,” she told The Associated Press in 2023. “They’re the ones who keep me going because they bring such joy into my life — and they keep you updated on what’s happening in their world.”
Sister Jean was born on Aug. 21, 1919, in San Francisco. She grew up in a devoutly Catholic household and realized her own religious calling when she was 8 years old.
In third grade, Sister Jean met a teacher who belonged to the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The interaction inspired Sister Jean to recite the same prayer almost every day in hopes that she would get what she wanted.
“Dear God, help me understand what I should do, but please tell me I should become a BVM sister,” Sister Jean recalled in her memoir “Wake Up With Purpose: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years.”
“I guess God listened to me on that one.”
She eventually made her way to the order’s motherhouse in Dubuque, Iowa, and made her vows. Sister Jean would then head back to California, teaching at various Catholic schools and even coaching girls’ basketball.
She eventually made the decision to move to Chicago for a position at Mundelein College in 1961. The school would merge with Loyola in 1991 and Sister Jean was tasked with helping students transition during the merging period.
In 1994, she was asked to help the student basketball players keep their grades up. Later that year, she was named the chaplain of the men’s team. Although she didn’t know it at the time, the position became “the most transformational and transcendent position” of her life.
“Sports are very important because they help develop life skills,” Sister Jean wrote in her memoir. “And during those life skills, you’re also talking about faith and purpose.”
Her motto with the basketball team: “Worship, Work, Win.”
Sister Jean became a mainstay with Loyola, giving the pregame prayer for the team while also at times bringing her own scouting report on the opposition to the table.
“Letting us know who’s good at shooting, who to send to the free-throw line … pretty in-depth details,” Tom Welch, a former forward with Loyola told the Associated Press in 2023. “And then sometimes, you know, she’ll make us laugh, feel good for a game.”
During the 2018 tournament, Loyola turned heads as it upset of Miami in the first round with a buzzer-beating 3. The team went on to upset Tennessee in the Round of 32, sending Loyola to its first Sweet 16 in 33 years.
Throughout the coverage of these games, Sister Jean was frequently shown on camera cheering on her squad. Her energy, especially for that of a then-98-year-old, captivated fans across the country.
Loyola looked to capitalize on its star off the court, selling a limited number of Sister Jean bobbleheads during the tournament run. Some of the figures sold for as much as $300 apiece on eBay.
The Ramblers ultimately advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1963 before falling to Michigan.
Sister Jean made her way back into the spotlight a few years later during the 2021 tournament as her eighth-seeded Ramblers took on top-seeded Illinois, a game with clear intrastate bragging rights. Before the big game, she gave her signature pregame prayer.
“As we play the Fighting Illini, we ask for special help to overcome this team and get a great win,” Sister Jean said, according to CNN. “We hope to score early and make our opponents nervous. We have a great opportunity to convert rebounds as this team makes about 50% of layups and 30% of its 3 points. Our defense can take care of that.”
Her prayers were ultimately answered as Loyola defeated Illinois and advanced to the Sweet 16. The Ramblers lost to Oregon State in the following round, 65-58.
Beyond her presence during Loyola’s tournament runs, her impact was always felt on campus by all students. Catharina Baeten, a graduate of Loyola, said that one of the main reasons she wanted to attend the university was Sister Jean.
“Everyone loves Sister Jean,” Baeten told the Associated Press, recalling that she first met the nun during a tour of Loyola when she was in high school. “There’s not a single unkind bone in her body and she represents our values… she’s the embodiment of compassion.”
Category: General Sports
