My mother played his records for me when I was a kid. I was enthralled at how smart and witty his songs were. I always thought his decision to walk away from show business was smart on a level I couldn't articulate, but perhaps this is close: he just did what he wanted to do.
We should all be so fortunate.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/arts/music/tom-lehrer-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Z08.RyfF.118ql6ikXvf0&smid=url-share