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Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the former Loyola Ramblers team chaplain that became a famous figure during the men’s basketball team’s 2018 run to the Final Four, has died at 106 years old, the university announced Thursday night in a statement:
“Loyola University Chicago is greatly saddened to confirm the death of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM. This is a tremendous loss of someone who touched the lives of so many people. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts & prayers during this difficult time.”
Sister Jean served Loyola’s students for more than six decades, retiring just last month. She was a common sight at Loyola sporting events, and garnered national fame when her No. 11-seeded Ramblers embarked on a Cinderella run in the NCAA Tournament, upsetting No. 6 Miami, No. 3 Tennessee, No. 7 Nevada and No. 9 Kansas State before finally falling to No. 3 Michigan in the Final Four.
Sister Jean joined the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and began teaching at Mundelein College in Chicago in 1961. Mundelein College merged with Loyola University Chicago in 1991, and she later became the chaplain for the men’s basketball team in 1994.
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