Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the beloved chaplain who became a national sensation for her unwavering support of Loyola University Chicago's men's basketball team, has died aged 106.
Sister Jean was there when the Ramblers won their first-ever national championship in 1963. But she reached peak fame when she was spotted on the sidelines again decades later, rousing the team amid another championship run at the ripe old age of 98.
Her court presence turned her into a global celebrity, including a social media mention from former President Barack Obama.
Loyola's president called her "an invaluable source of wisdom and grace for generations" of students and staff, in a statement after her death.
"While we feel grief and a sense of loss, there is great joy in her legacy," said Loyola University President Mark C Reed. "Her presence was a profound blessing for our entire community and her spirit abides in thousands of lives."
