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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SISTER JEAN
WHEREAS, Sister Jean, born Dolores Bertha Schmidt, was born August 21, 1919, in San Francisco, California; and
WHEREAS, Sister Jean entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dubuque, Iowa in 1937, where she took her vows and the name Sister Jean; and
WHEREAS, Sister Jean completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at Mount St. Mary’s College in 1949, and her Masters of Arts at Loyola Marymount University in 1961, and was a dedicated educator for most of her life; and
WHEREAS, Sister Jean moved to Chicago in 1961 to work at Mundelein College and during the mid-1960s, she was active in the civil rights movement; and
WHEREAS, three years after Mundelein’s merger with Loyola University Chicago, Sister Jean became the chaplain for the men’s Ramblers basketball team, providing spiritual and scouting guidance for the team, leading them to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Final Four in 2018 and becoming a national phenomenon along the way; and
WHEREAS, Sister Jean became a centenarian on August 21, 2019 with the Governor of Illinois announcing it as ‘Sister Jean Day’ and was later recognized on her 105th birthday with a presidential proclamation in recognition of her lifetime of service; and
WHEREAS, Sister Jean will be remembered for her faith, leadership, and impact she has had on the lives of thousands of young people in Chicago and around the world; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Cook County Board of Commissioners on behalf of the residents of Cook County, does hereby honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Sister Jean; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Loyola University, Chicago as a symbol of our respect, admiration, and heartfelt condolences.
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