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Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, a Catholic nun who became famous as chaplain for the Loyola Chicago men’s basketball team during their 2018 NCAA Final Four run, has published a memoir called “Wake Up with Purpose: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years.”
The 103-year-old nun is known for her daily routine of waking up at 5 a.m. to read the Gospel on her tablet and complete her morning prayers.
She sees the attention she has received from the sports world as an opportunity to tell her story and share what she learned.
Sister Jean loves being with young people and is comfortable with modern technology like iPads. She was born in San Francisco in 1919, and her religious calling came when she was eight.
She is a Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary member and has been affiliated with Loyola since 1961.
Sister Jean Age
Jean Dolores Schmidt, born on Aug 21, 1919, is an American religious sister from the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She also serves as the chaplain for the Loyola Ramblers men’s basketball team at Loyola University Chicago. She is known as Sister Jean.
Sister Jean Early Life
Born in San Francisco, California, on Aug 21, 1919, Jean Dolores Schmidt grew up in the Eureka Valley neighborhood. She expressed an early interest in becoming a nun during her third-grade years.
While attending St. Paul’s High School, she played basketball for the girls’ team. After completing high school in 1937, she merged with the Sisters of Charity of the Holy Virgin convent in Iowa, where she became a sister in 1941.
Sister Jean returned to California to teach after completing her education. She earned a B.A. from Mount St. College (now Mount St. University) in Los Angeles in 1949 and an M.A. from the Loyola University of Los Angeles (now Loyola University) in 1961.
Sister Jean Height & Weight
Sister Jean is a beloved figure in basketball, known for her spiritual guidance and unwavering support of the Loyola Ramblers men’s basketball team.
However, as a nun, her height, weight, and body measurements are not commonly discussed or disclosed. But according to some reports, she is 5’0 in height.
Sister Jean’s age may have affected her physical stature, it is important to remember that her impact on the Loyola community extends far beyond any physical attributes.
Sister Jean Professional Career
Sister Jean started teaching at St. Bernard School in Glassell Park, California, then moved to St. Charles Borromeo School in North Hollywood in 1946. A few of her former students from St. Charles joined religious life, such as Fr. Thomas Rausch, S.J., and Sister Milligan, RSHM.
Sister Jean moved to Chicago to teach at Mundelein College in 1961 and actively participated in the civil rights movement during the mid-1960s. She began working at Loyola in 1991 after Mundelein College merged with Loyola.
Sister Jean became the team chaplain for the Ramblers men’s basketball team in 1994 and was presented with an honorary doctorate from Loyola in 2016. She inspired a bobblehead doll in 2011 and was honored with “Sister Jean Day” in 2012.
Sister Jean became widely known outside of Loyola after the Ramblers’ unexpected victory over Miami in the 2018 NCAA tournament. She became even more famous after the team upset Tennessee in the round of 32, leading Loyola to its first Sweet 16 appearance in 33 years.
Sister Jean’s fame grew rapidly, and her bobblehead sold for over $300 on eBay. Loyola advanced to the Final 4 for the first time since 1963 but lost to Michigan in the semifinal game.
Once again, Sister Jean became the center of attention in 2021 when Loyola prepared for the tournament. Despite being initially barred from appearing at the tournament, she was cleared to attend after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Sister Jean’s Net Worth
As of 2023, Sister Jean’s net worth is around $80k. However, Sister Jean celebrated her 100th birthday on Aug 21, 2019, and continues to work at Loyola, where she maintains an office in the student center on campus. As of 2020, she lived in The Clare, a senior living residence in downtown Chicago.
She appeared at the 2022 tournament, with USA Today noting that she was still healthy. On her 103rd birthday, Aug 21, 2022, the plaza outside the Loyola CTA station was devoted to Sister Jean to commemorate her life and work.
