Tom Lehrer and Santa Cruz: the trail of one of America's premier satirists
Renowned satirist and mathematician Tom Lehrer taught at UC Santa Cruz for 29 years, residing in Santa Cruz for half of each year since 1972. His legacy endures through his witty songs and influence on satire.
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Tom Lehrer, a renowned satirist and mathematician, spent significant time in Santa Cruz, where he taught at UC Santa Cruz for 29 years. Despite his global fame, Lehrer chose to live in Santa Cruz for half of each year starting in 1972. Known for his witty and darkly humorous songs, Lehrer's influence extended beyond his time in Santa Cruz, with his work continuing to be celebrated through productions like "Tomfoolery." Lehrer's passion for mathematics and musical theater found a perfect intersection at UCSC, where he taught popular classes combining both disciplines. While Lehrer now resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts, his legacy in Santa Cruz endures through memories of his time spent in the community. Lehrer's decision to move to Santa Cruz was influenced by the university's innovative approach to interdisciplinary education, allowing him to pursue his dual passions in a unique academic setting. Despite Lehrer's elusive nature and reluctance to grant interviews, his impact on Santa Cruz and the world of satire remains significant.
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9 comments ... decided that I was too old not to have fun, that I needed to go someplace that was fun, and Santa Cruz was set up for fun.”
He decided to buy a home in Santa Cruz on the beach just south of Pleasure Point.
The other math classes I took were History of Math by Ralph Abraham (a chaos mathematician), which was held in the quad (basically an old stone quarry turned into an amphitheatre), making it a lot like hearing a lecture in ancient greece. And Cybernetics with David Huffman, which kicked my ass but I never forgot the lessons I learned.
https://capitalfringe.org/events/tom-lehrer-is-alive-and-wel...
(Lots more at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40459107)
BTW, search for “Tom Lehrer” on YouTube Music - they have a lot of his stuff.
Always leave 'em wanting more.
Imagine if he'd stuck around and gotten repetitive, like Weird Al.
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