{"id":190207,"date":"2025-09-29T16:05:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T16:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/190207\/"},"modified":"2025-09-29T16:05:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T16:05:09","slug":"sister-jean-who-cheered-on-loyola-chicagos-final-four-run-retires-at-age-106","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/190207\/","title":{"rendered":"Sister Jean, who cheered on Loyola Chicago\u2019s Final Four run, retires at age 106"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the Loyola University Chicago chaplain who gained fame in her 90s as one of college basketball\u2019s most recognizable fans while cheering on the Ramblers during their surprising run to the men\u2019s Final Four in 2018, has officially retired from her public duties at age 106.<\/p>\n

The university announced this week that she is no longer able to be physically active in her role. Sister Jean joined Loyola\u2019s campus community in 1991 and began serving as the men\u2019s basketball team\u2019s chaplain three years later. Over the decades, she became a fixture in Loyola\u2019s daily life, known for her pregame prayers, scouting reports and beaming greeting of students on campus.<\/p>\n

Her profile soared in 2018 when Loyola, a No. 11 seed, shocked the college basketball world by advancing to the Final Four. Cameras often found Sister Jean courtside, cheering in her maroon-and-gold scarf. She quickly became a national symbol of the Ramblers\u2019 feel-good underdog story<\/a>, embraced by both Loyola fans and the wider sports community.<\/p>\n

Even in her later years, Sister Jean maintained a national profile. In 2023, she published \u201cWake Up With Purpose! What I\u2019ve Learned in My First 100 Years,\u201d a memoir reflecting on her life and lessons. The book drew national attention and praise, including recognition from President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n

This past spring, she missed Loyola\u2019s NIT men\u2019s semifinal game, raising concerns about her health. Now, with her retirement from active campus life, the university community is reflecting on her legacy.<\/p>\n

Loyola President Mark Reed said Sister Jean\u2019s spirit will remain a part of the school, even if she is less visible in person. \u201cShe will always be an integral member of our community,\u201d he said. She also helped to establish the Sister Jean Scholarship Fund, which continues to support Loyola students in need.<\/p>\n

(Photo: Roy Rochlin \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\"Connections:\"Connections:<\/p>\n

Sep 29, 2025<\/p>\n

Connections: Sports Edition<\/p>\n

Spot the pattern. Connect the terms<\/p>\n

Find the hidden link between sports terms<\/p>\n

Play today’s puzzle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the Loyola University Chicago chaplain who gained fame in her 90s as one of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":190208,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[402,2662,690,111063,2663,398,400,401,99],"class_list":["post-190207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ncaa-basketball","tag-basketball","tag-college-sports","tag-culture","tag-loyola-chicago-ramblers","tag-mens-college-basketball","tag-ncaa","tag-ncaa-basketball","tag-ncaabasketball","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=190207"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190207\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/190208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=190207"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=190207"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=190207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}