who was sister jean

Sister Jean, born Jean Dolores Schmidt on August 21, 1919, was an American religious sister of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and served as the beloved chaplain for the Loyola University Chicago men's basketball team. She gained international fame during the 2018 NCAA "March Madness" tournament when the Loyola Ramblers unexpectedly reached the Final Four. Sister Jean was known for her spiritual support to the team, leading pregame prayers, providing encouragement, and even offering scouting insights about opponents. She was also an educator and remained an integral part of Loyola's community for over 60 years. Sister Jean passed away on October 9, 2025, at the age of 106.