Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, men’s basketball chaplain and Loyola icon, turned 99 years old today. She blew out 99 candles surrounded by friends, coworkers and adoring fans in the Damen Student Center. Head men’s basketball coach Porter Moser even presented her with a number 99 basketball jersey.
As she comes off arguably her craziest, and by her own admission “most fun,” year in her near-century life, she’s been a celebrated Loyola figure for much more than just basketball.
While hundreds of Loyola students can recall their own unique moments with Sister Jean, she skyrocketed to stardom during Loyola men’s basketball’s magical March Madness run that reached the Final Four this past spring.