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Tom Lehrer, Iconic Satirist, Dies at 97

7/27/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Tom Lehrer, the legendary satirist and mathematician, has passed away at 97 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Renowned for his sharp wit and darkly humorous songs like "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park," Lehrer masterfully critiqued society and politics during the 1950s and 1960s, all while shaping young minds at esteemed universities like Harvard and UC Santa Cruz.

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Story summary

Tom Lehrer, the legendary satirist and mathematician, has passed away at 97 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Renowned for his sharp wit and darkly humorous songs like "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park," Lehrer masterfully critiqued society and politics during the 1950s and 1960s, all while shaping young minds at esteemed universities like Harvard and UC Santa Cruz.