Nothing much surprises Jack Sandner, but he admits to being completely thrown for a loop Friday when some 200 friends and family gathered to wish him a happy 70th birthday at the private Casino Club.
“I was totally surprised. And that never happens,” the retired chairman of CME Group Inc. said. (He's still an adviser.)
“The whole week I was focused on MF Global,” he said, referring to the financial company that went bust. “My mind wasn't on my birthday.”
When he and his wife entered the club, “I look up and I see all the kids and children dressed in ‘50s costumes,” he said, referring to his children and grand-children. “I said, ‘Whoa!'”
“He stopped dead in his tracks and backed out of the room before coming back in,” said Ned Jannotta, chairman of William Blair & Co.
Mr. Sandner already had marked his Nov. 3 birthday — he thought — with his wife, Carole, and good friends Mr. Jannotta; McDonald's board Chairman Andrew McKenna; insurance executive Pat Ryan; Sam Skinner, of counsel at Greenberg Traurig LLP, and beer distributor Chris Reyes.
“We were at the Glen View country club and it was great. I thought that was it,” Mr. Sandner said.
It was just the ruse to give him a real surprise.
Along with ‘50s attire, the surprise party included music from the era — a nod to Mr. Sandner's time in the dance spotlight. In 1956, he won a high school rock ‘n' roll championship at what was the annual Harvest Moon Festival held at the old Chicago Stadium. (Hollywood legends Jayne Mansfield and Zsa Zsa Gabor were there.)
And there were pictures everywhere documenting his life as a boxer (yep, he did that, too), businessman and family man.
The meal had a Thanksgiving theme — turkey, with all the fixings.
“It's my favorite meal,” Mr. Sandner said.
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