Cardeza was a wealthy banker in Germantown, Pennsylvania.  He was married to Mary B. Racine who had emmigrated to the USA from France.

He boarded Titanic in Cherbourg with his mother, Charlotte Cardeza, his manservant Gustave Leseur and his mother's maid Miss Annie Moore Ward. Their accomodation was one of the most luxurious suites on the ship. They were all to escape the disaster on lifeboat 3. 

During the first world war Thomas worked as a diplomat in Vienna.

His wife passed away in 1943 and Thomas in 1952. He was buried beside his mother in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.