Not one for big parties, local resident Dr. James Beier expected his 80th birthday to pass quietly.
But on Saturday, Jan. 7, Beier and his wife, Deanne, arrived at the Sarasota home of his eldest daughter, Elaine Dabney.
Expecting to join his daughter and her husband, Tom, for a post-holiday lunch, Beier was surprised to find six Beier children, their families, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter together for a surprise party. Many had flown in for the weekend to greet their patriarch with a birthday flash mob.
Other surprises that highlighted the weekend celebration included a presentation of more than 100 birthday cards from family and friends, many of which dated back to Beier’s childhood days growing up in the Clifton neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio.
The weekend concluded with a military serenade performed by The First Brass Band of Sarasota playing the former Eagle Scout and United States Marine’s all-time favorite, “Marine Corp Hymn.”