‘Health is more important’: Sister Jean, 106,  Retires From Official Campus Duties 

Amid growing health concerns, Loyola’s Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt BVM turned 106 Aug. 21, retiring from her role on Loyola’s campus, where she served as campus minister and chaplain of the Ramblers Men’s Basketball team beginning in 1991.

Schmidt’s absence was first noted during the 2025 Spring semester when she didn’t attend the NIT semifinals in April, The Phoenix previously reported. This year, she left another uplifting message for students.

“Let your dreams become a reality,” Schmidt wrote to students, imparting her lasting wisdom to the student body despite being unable to be present on campus.

Schmidt’s spitfire energy and decades long love for the Ramblers was commemorated by university President Mark C. Reed in a message to students, explaining her absence. 

“While Sister Jean is no longer able to be physically present on campus, she remains a beloved friend, trusted advisor, and loyal Rambler,” Reed wrote.

The Loyola celebrity’s birthday came without any on-campus celebration, such as the Water Tower Campus Block where Schmidt celebrated her 105th, The Phoenix previously reported. Vice President of Communications Christian Andersen confirmed Schmidt is retiring from official duties at the university, explaining her notable absence in an email to The Phoenix.

“Sister Jean is retiring and stepping back from official duties at Loyola,” Anderson wrote. “We are mindful of Sister’s privacy in regards to health and can’t comment beyond what was mentioned in her [Aug. 21] message.”

Schmidt was the minister for the men’s basketball team, which made it to the Final Four in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Athletic Director Steve Watson and men’s basketball head coach Drew Valentine declined to comment. Anderson confirmed Schmidt, as part of her retirement, will no longer serve as chaplain.

Andersen declined to give further details about Schmidt’s health status beyond her mentioned “summer cold.”

Only a few weeks into the academic year, students are already fulfilling Schmidt’s hope in her message for students to build friendships and progress their studies. During the first week of school, students sat together or peered studiously at their laptops up and down the lakefront path.

First-year nursing major Lily Pickett and first-year molecular and cellular biology major Mady King said they both read Schmidt’s message. 

“She’s such a big part of the school atmosphere and what the school stands for,” Pickett said. “It would definitely be fun to see her working, but health is more important.”

Before her retirement, Schmidt could be found in her office in the Damen Student Center. Students could visit for office hours, where they often stopped to chat with her or take a picture.

Fourth-year criminal justice majors Carmela Burns and Kiyara Dihane said they were sad to hear about Schmidt’s retirement but felt uplifted by her message. 

“Whenever I think of Sister Jean, I think of her typing away on her computer in her office, which I’ll miss now that she’s retired,” Dihane said. “I think it’s nice that she’s still taking time out of her day to send support to Loyola students, even with the retirement.”

Burns agreed and added the emotional levity the message brought.

“A lot of people out here go through a lot of things, and it’s nice to have Sister Jean send out something that can bring hope in a hopeless world,” Burns said. “I think she gives people a lot of worth, value, and belief in themselves.”

Students were able to leave a digital note for Schmidt on her website to wish her a happy birthday. 

Schmidt has been a loyal part of the Loyola community since the school’s merging with Mundelein College in 1991, The Phoenix previously reported. For her 100th birthday, the Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt BVM scholarship was created to provide full and partial financial assistance to Loyola students, according to the university.

In 2023, Schmidt published her book “Wake Up with Purpose! What I’ve Learned in My First 100 Years,” which received a proclamation from former President Joe Biden, The Phoenix previously reported.