San Francisco's local news source, SFist, recently highlighted the story of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, a 103-year-old nun who became the NCAA Men's Basketball unofficial Cinderella-team mascot.
Schmidt gained recognition as a beloved figure in the basketball community since her school team, the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers, made waves in the 2018, 2021, and 2022 tournaments.
Although she went to Loyola, Schmidt was born in San Francisco in 1919. She resided there until she joined a convent in 1937.
San Francisco Roots
In her recently released memoir, Schmidt shares her San Francisco upbringing in the early 1900s.
The memoir, which has a strong Catholic influence, provides an insightful look into the social issues of that time, such as LGBTQ rights and homelessness.
Schmidt's childhood was spent in The Castro, which was then called Eureka Valley, during the Great Depression.
This was a time when Al Capone was imprisoned in Alcatraz, and both the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge were still being constructed.
In second grade, Schmidt enrolled in Most Holy Redeemer Grammar School located on Diamond Street, where she paid a monthly tuition fee of $2.
Although Most Holy Redeemer Church (MHR) still stands today, the elementary school no longer exists.
The church has been the center of controversy for being recognized as the 'gayest' U.S. Catholic parish, which welcomed HIV-positive parishioners in 1985 and currently operates an AIDS Support Group.
In her memoir, Schmidt reminisces about her childhood in Eureka Valley, which was known as the LGBTQ neighborhood even before it became popularly known as The Castro.
She recalls encountering gay men in the community but didn't fully understand what it meant at that time.
Schmidt was advised to report any suspicious behavior to her teachers or a person in authority.
However, she found these men to be friendly, and when she told her father about her interactions with them, he assured her that they would protect her if anyone tried to harm her.
In 1933, Schmidt began attending St. Paul's High School in Noe Valley and played basketball for the girls' team.
Although St. Paul's still exists today, it has since been transformed into a K-8 school.
The church affiliated with the school is easily recognizable by its two large steeples and is most commonly known for its appearance in the 1992 film Sister Act.
Several years after Schmidt's time at St. Paul's, she unexpectedly became an international sports media sensation in 2018.
Lifetime Basketball Fan
Schmidt has served as the Loyola-Chicago basketball team's chaplain since 1994, according to TIME magazine.
She has been a loyal supporter of the Ramblers for most of her life, having witnessed the team's previous tournament won many years ago.
While providing spiritual guidance and openly praying for the team's success, Schmidt also possesses a wealth of basketball knowledge and expertise.
She created a comprehensive scouting report that included detailed assessments of each player's strengths and weaknesses, which she presented to Coach Porter Moser on his first day in the position.
As per the New York Times, Schmidt also sends personalized emails to every player and member of the coaching staff, not just Moser, after each game.
That said, she has gained a significant following among Loyola-Chicago basketball enthusiasts, having been honored with her bobblehead in 2011.
During games, she is frequently seen wearing her custom-made maroon and gold Nike sneakers, which are emblazoned with the words "Sister" and "Jean" on each foot.
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