Sister Jean Dolores and the Loyola Ramblers
Mar 18, 2018 11:33:39 GMT -5
UConnChapette, semper, and 3 more like this
Post by chicagogg on Mar 18, 2018 11:33:39 GMT -5
Long ago and far away, in Chicago, I graduated from a small Catholic women's college called Mundelein, run by the Sisters of the BVM. Loyola University was, literally, across the fence from us, on the north lake shore of Chicago.
Our college only had about 1000 students, so the faculty/student ratio was great. Sr Jean Delores Schmidt, back then, was the Dean of Students, and also one of my professors. She was also the advisor to the student government, and the yearbook. I was on both. "Jean the Dean" as we irreverently called her (but a respectful Sr. Jean" in person), was one of the coolest, most intelligent women I have ever met, and I include to this day, many years later. Make no mistake, she is a warm, wonderful woman, but also tough. She had to be to ride herd over that college.
Some years ago, Mundelein "merged" into Loyola, a sad day for independent women's colleges, but necessary. The fence came down, the campuses merged, and I find myself an alumna of both, as now the school magazines hit my box from Loyola. I knew from the mag that Sister Jean had become the chaplain to the men's team. We exchanged a few emails after that, and she is a big fan of UCWBB.
You cannot imagine how thrilled I was to see her catapulted into media stardom, and go viral overnight, when Loyola beat Miami to advance out of the first round. 98 years old, in a wheelchair from a hip injury, and still exactly the same terrific person I knew back then.
Honestly, every story, every tv mention of the Ramblers included Sr. Jean. Check the papers, you'll believe me.
Yesterday evening, Loyola vs. Tennessee was must see viewing in our house (husband is an actual Loyola alum). We lived and died on every shot.
When they won at the buzzer - our urban school, who hadn't even been to the dance since 1987, going on to the sweet 16? And beating Tennessee to do it? Sheer bliss on many levels.
And the icing on the cake? Watching every single player and coach for Loyola go over and hug that little tiny nun. They love her just like we did, back in the day.
On Edit: cool story on Sister Jean from Chicago Tribune
www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-loyola-basketball-sister-jean-dolores-schmidt-20180217-story.html
Our college only had about 1000 students, so the faculty/student ratio was great. Sr Jean Delores Schmidt, back then, was the Dean of Students, and also one of my professors. She was also the advisor to the student government, and the yearbook. I was on both. "Jean the Dean" as we irreverently called her (but a respectful Sr. Jean" in person), was one of the coolest, most intelligent women I have ever met, and I include to this day, many years later. Make no mistake, she is a warm, wonderful woman, but also tough. She had to be to ride herd over that college.
Some years ago, Mundelein "merged" into Loyola, a sad day for independent women's colleges, but necessary. The fence came down, the campuses merged, and I find myself an alumna of both, as now the school magazines hit my box from Loyola. I knew from the mag that Sister Jean had become the chaplain to the men's team. We exchanged a few emails after that, and she is a big fan of UCWBB.
You cannot imagine how thrilled I was to see her catapulted into media stardom, and go viral overnight, when Loyola beat Miami to advance out of the first round. 98 years old, in a wheelchair from a hip injury, and still exactly the same terrific person I knew back then.
Honestly, every story, every tv mention of the Ramblers included Sr. Jean. Check the papers, you'll believe me.
Yesterday evening, Loyola vs. Tennessee was must see viewing in our house (husband is an actual Loyola alum). We lived and died on every shot.
When they won at the buzzer - our urban school, who hadn't even been to the dance since 1987, going on to the sweet 16? And beating Tennessee to do it? Sheer bliss on many levels.
And the icing on the cake? Watching every single player and coach for Loyola go over and hug that little tiny nun. They love her just like we did, back in the day.
On Edit: cool story on Sister Jean from Chicago Tribune
www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-loyola-basketball-sister-jean-dolores-schmidt-20180217-story.html
