Arts & Entertainment

Sister Jean, Who Cheered on Loyola’s Men’s Basketball Team, Is Retiring at 106

Sister Jean, the chaplain of the men’s basketball team at Loyola University Chicago who gained national attention for cheering on the Ramblers during their 2018 NCAA March Madness tournament run, has taken a step back and is retiring.

Sister Jean provided a message to Loyola students and faculty on her 106th birthday on Aug. 21, where she wrote she had a “bad summer cold and other health issues” that made her unable to celebrate on campus this year.

“Birthdays are special days, and this one is also very special,” Sister Jean wrote last month. “In fact, I am unable to be there because I have a bad summer cold and other health issues so it has been decided that I should not go to Lake Shore Campus to be with you on my birthday. That makes me very sad, but you can still celebrate.”

The student newspaper the Loyola Phoenix confirmed Sister Jean was retiring and stepping back from official duties at the university in a story published earlier this month. Her absence was first noted during the spring semester, the newspaper previously reported.

“While Sister Jean is no longer able to be physically present on campus, she remains a beloved friend, trusted advisor, and loyal Rambler—cheering for our teams and praying for us all daily,” Loyola President Mark Reed said in a statement to campus on Aug. 21.

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt gained national media attention in 2018 when the then No. 11 seed Loyola’s men’s basketball team broke brackets by making it to the Final Four in the NCAA March Madness tournament. Sister Jean, who often sported a maroon and gold scarf, would lead the team’s prayers before games.

In a 2023 appearance on “Chicago Tonight” to talk about her memoir “Wake Up with Purpose! What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years,” she spoke about how she wants to be remembered.

“I would like to be remembered as a compassionate person, one who really wants to relate to people, help people,” Sister Jean said in the 2023 interview. “To remember me as someone who really loves God and loves them and loves what I do.” 

Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]

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