Over A Century of Sister Jean
104 years of faith, education, and basketball
August 21, 1919
Born Dolores Bertha Schmidt, the first of three children of Joseph and Bertha Schmidt, in San Francisco
Market Street, San Francisco. Courtesy of Getty Images.
September 1937
Leaves her home in San Francisco for a two-day, three-night train trip to Dubuque, Iowa, to begin a six-month period as a postulant, or candidate, with the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM)
Used with permission of Mount Carmel Archives of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, Iowa.
March 19, 1938
Officially received into the BVMs, taking on the order’s traditional habit and her new religious name: Sister Jean Dolores
Used with permission of Mount Carmel Archives of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, Iowa.
August 15, 1945
Professes her final vows as a BVM in Dubuque and is assigned soon after to teach at St. Charles Elementary School in North Hollywood, California. She starts a sports program, coaching women’s basketball, softball, volleyball, track, ping-pong, and yo-yo
Used with permission of Mount Carmel Archives of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, Iowa.
Summer 1961
Arrives on the campus of Mundelein College in Chicago after completing her master’s degree at Loyola University, Los Angeles, and begins teaching college courses for the first time (second from right)
Courtesy of the Women and Leadership Archives, Loyola University Chicago.
1970
Named acting dean of Mundelein College for the next two years, in addition to already serving as associate dean and director of summer sessions
Courtesy of the Women and Leadership Archives, Loyola University Chicago.
1974
Serves as director of Coffey Hall for the next four years, adding another role to her growing list of titles
Courtesy of the Women and Leadership Archives, Loyola University Chicago.
1984
Ends tenure as associate dean and director of academic services, and becomes associate vice president for academic affairs
Courtesy of the Women and Leadership Archives, Loyola University Chicago.
1991
Joins Loyola University Chicago as assistant dean and an academic advisor, after Mundelein College becomes affiliated with Loyola
Courtesy of the Women and Leadership Archives, Loyola University Chicago.
1994
Begins a new role with the men’s and women’s basketball teams by helping the players keep their grades high enough to remain eligible to play, calling herself the “Booster Shooter”
1996
Transitions from her role as an academic advisor to official team chaplain for the men’s basketball team
2009
Launches SMILE (Students Moving Into the Lives of the Elderly), pairing Loyola students with residents at the Clare, a retirement home next door to the Water Tower Campus
February 10, 2011
Has her likeness immortalized in plastic for the Loyola Ramblers’ first Sister Jean bobblehead night, during which the first 900 fans at Gentile Arena receive a small statue of the team chaplain
August 21, 2014
Celebrates her 95th birthday with a surprise party and the announcement of “Sr. Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM Day” at Loyola
May 13, 2016
Presented a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree by Loyola in recognition of her decades of commitment and service to the University
January 21, 2017
Inducted into the Ramblers’ Athletics Hall of Fame in Gentile Arena during halftime at a men’s basketball game
March 2018
Becomes an international celebrity due to her constant presence on the sidelines during Loyola’s historic NCAA Tournament run that culminated in an unlikely spot in the Final Four
September 12, 2018
Receives the Sword of Loyola, the University’s highest honor, at the 2018 Founders’ Dinner
August 21, 2019
Celebrates her 100th birthday with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the Loyola community.
March 2021
Supports her Ramblers virtually as the team makes another deep March Madness run, this time to the Sweet Sixteen.
August 2021
Celebrates a joyful 102nd birthday with students, faculty, and staff back on campus.
March 2022
Goes dancing for the third time in five years as the Ramblers take on Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament.
August 21, 2022
On her 103rd birthday, the Loyola CTA Red Line plaza is named for her and official proclamations from both Governor JB Pritzker and former Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot dedicate the day in her honor.
February 2023
Authors a bestselling memoir, Wake Up With Purpose!: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years, with renowned journalist Seth Davis.
Loyola University Chicago recognizes Sister Jean's lifetime as devoted to serving others. Learn more about her life and impact.
