In exile he changed his Hungarian surname "Szendrei" to the Americanized spelling "Sendrey".
Szendrei was born in 1884 to a Hungarian middle-class family in Budapest (Austria-Hungary); his father was a civil servant.
Later he was invited by Abraham Binder to the Jewish community center 92nd Street YMHA in New York City.
The funeral service took place with the participation of the Jewish community in the Sinai Temple in Westwood, Los Angeles.
[6] Szendrei was married to the soprano singer Eugenie Weisz, who performed at the Vienna State Opera during Gustav Mahlers tenure as director.
[9] Sendrey composed several works, including operas, pieces for orchestra and chamber music, Lieder as well as liturgical songs.