Thomas Alexander Cardo, Sr.

He attended Saint Gabriel School for his elementary education, transferred to McClintock Junior High, and graduated from East Mecklenburg High School in 1967. He attended and graduated from The Citadel in Charleston, SC as a member of the class of 1971. He was looking forward to attending his 50th and last formal reunion at The Citadel in November of 2021.

Upon his graduation from The Citadel “Tom” was awarded a commission as a 1st Lieutenant into the United State Air Force. He received his pilot training in Del Rio, Texas, where he first developed his love and passion for flying. From there his journey took him to Grand Forks, North Dakota to fly KC-135’s for the Strategic Air Command. He was a Vietnam Veteran and flew missions in Vietnam and Laos; and as his career in the USAF grew it took him around the world.

He left the Air Force in 1976 to get married and returned home to Charlotte to join the family business, Independent Electric Supply. There he served as Vice President and head of the “internship” program for his beloved nieces, nephews, and sons until his retirement in 2003.

Tom kept up his flying by joining the North Carolina Air National Guard out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. He was an active member of the Air National Guard, joining in 1977, and flew C-130 cargo planes as a captain until 1984.

After his retirement in 2003 his need to always be of service led him to become a bus driver for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and later, Providence Day School. He loved interacting with the students; from kindergarteners all the way to high schoolers. His voyages with sports teams, extracurricular clubs, and scholastic teams took him all over North Carolina and beyond.

Tom was a loving and giving brother, husband, friend, and father. He was preceded in death by James J. and Elizabeth “Betty” Cardo. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Dorothy “Dottie” Finlayson Cardo and their two sons, James Edwin Cardo and Thomas Alexander Cardo, Jr. and his fiancée Christine Younghans and her daughter, Rylee. He is also survived by his brother, James J. Cardo and his wife Lynda of Charleston SC, and two sisters, Margaret (Beth) Harris and Nancy Cardo, both of Charlotte.

Beyond his professional life he truly came alive at the family lake house. Tom “the lake man” Cardo helped to build the family cabin and spent countless days and weeks fishing, skiing, swimming, boating, sailing, and grilling there. “Progress has been made” was always his way of letting the family know that work time on the cabin was over...and it was time to have some fun. His later years were spent finally relaxing as he watched with great pride as his nieces, nephews, and sons developed their own cherished memories with their families.

Never one to sit around he also enjoyed the beach, being a “solar garden design specialist”, musical theater, good Bar-B-Q, his children, and walks with his wife, where he got to chat up the neighbors. Tom Cardo never met a stranger, just friends he hadn’t met yet.

The family is planning a Memorial Service for Tom to be held at Elmwood Cemetery on May 22, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to:

The American Cancer Association:

https://donate3.cancer.org/?campaign=fruseo&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%5BB%5D+American+Cancer+Society+-+Exact&utm_term=american%20cancer%20society%20memorial%20donation&utm_content=_dc%7Cpcrid%7C472835277116%7Cpmt%7Ce%7Cpkw%7Camerican

OR

The Citadel Foundation Class of ’71:

https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1674/bp17/interior.aspx?sid=1674&gid=1004&pgid=783&cid=2151

171 Moultrie Street

Charleston, SC 29409 - 6230