Dennis Frank Sendrey

Dennis grew up in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He loved baseball and was the catcher for his team in high school. His baseball talent led him to Waynesburg University, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he continued to play on the college team, became a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and graduated in 1968 with a degree in Business. Upon graduation, Dennis was accepted into the U.S. Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and served in the Navy as a Lieutenant on the Yorktown Aircraft Carrier and an Inshore Undersea Warfare Group.

Dennis met Kay in a college freshman English class at Waynesburg University in 1964 and it was love at first sight! They dated through their college years, married in 1970 in Pennsylvania and began their wonderful journey of 51 years together in Norfolk, Virginia, where Dennis was stationed in the Navy. Civilian life beckoned and they moved to Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, where he worked at Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh. Soon, Dennis was offered a position with a company near Dallas and moved his family to Plano, Texas, in 1980. As a product developer/analyst in information technology, he worked for Docutel, Olivetti, EDS, and Jack Henry.

The Sendrey family joined Custer Road United Methodist Church in December of 1980. They have remained active and are members of the Empty Nesters Sunday School Class. Dennis was always very supportive of Kay’s involvement in the music ministry of Custer Road United Methodist as she played the piano and organ there for many years. He enjoyed volunteering in the church’s AV department as a camera man!

Dennis was a loving husband and an exceptional dad to Laura Lee and Kevin. He was a dedicated coach for their baseball and softball teams in addition to Indian Guides, where he was “Big Rock,” and Kevin was “Little Stone.”  He always expected the best in a loving and caring way. Dennis enjoyed watching them thrive in school and looked forward to attending high school football games. He dressed in a black and gold Band Dad shirt for Plano East Senior High School where Laura Lee attended. Kevin eventually went to Plano Senior High School, so Dennis had to quickly change into a maroon Plano Senior High School band shirt to attend those games. No matter what color shirt he was wearing, he was proud of his children.

When the grandchildren came along, he was onboard with their activities, as well, and enjoyed attending all their games, tournaments, gymnastic meets, concerts, and school functions.

He was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan and attended many games in Pittsburgh both at Three Rivers Stadium and Heinz Field with his Terrible Towel. His greatest game to attend was Super Bowl XLIII in 2009 when the Steelers defeated the Cardinals in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Dennis Sendrey: December 8, 1946 – January 4, 2022

Although we focus on these dates, it is really the “dash” that matters more than anything else. Dennis’ “dash” was well lived with his smile, loving heart, cheerful outlook, and his great sense of humor which oftentimes popped up out of nowhere!

In closing, this quote by Maya Angelou is so fitting for what Dennis believed:

“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.” That he did!

Dennis is survived by his loving wife Kay Sendrey; children Laura Lee Minor and her husband Tim, Kevin Dennis Sendrey and his wife Kim; grandchildren Colleen Carr, Meredith, Timothy and Ben Minor, Cole and Kate Sendrey.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate Dennis’ life on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Custer Road United Methodist Church, 6601 Custer Road, Plano, Texas, with Rev. Tim Morrison officiating. If you are wanting to view the service via webcast, please visit: https://www.crumc.org/live

In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations to be made in his memory to:

The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy

https://www.foundationforpn.org/
Dennis struggled with neuropathy in his later years. This foundation raises awareness of this condition along with research and development for effective treatment plans and therapies.