Page 10 - BUZZ Magazine - Issue #5 Summer 2023 | University of Rochester

This spring and early summer, the Hummels are sailing to Australia and New Zealand with
about 30 other boats affiliated with the World Sailing Club. When they get to Australia, they
plan to rent an RV and explore by land for about six months before charting a course to
Indonesia and Thailand.

Fate, the Hummels say, brought the two of them together. Forty-three years ago, they were
college students participating in the same Semester in Politics program in London. Jill
hailed from the University of Rochester, and Zack from the University of Michigan. They hit 4
it off, returned home, and maintained a long-distance relationship before marrying in 1982.
Since then, they’ve both earned law degrees, raised three
children together, and welcomed two grandkids. They also
pursued busy, high-profile careers. Most recently, Jill served as
the president of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Connecticut,
and Zack was a partner at the Shipman & Goodwin law firm
working out of the Stamford, Connecticut, office.
The couple's love for sailing started 16 years ago when they
bought their first sailboat. Zack, who grew up sailing on
Lake Michigan, introduced Jill to the sport. After years of
sailing together, they started talking about the possibility
of selling everything and living on a boat. A few years ago,
the Hummels said, “If not now, when?” That’s when their
daydreams started turning into real plans—they prepared
their lives, plotted their routes, and got a bigger boat. And
off they went.
“We love this life,” Jill says. “By no means is it easy, though—it requires careful planning,
constant vigilance, and tireless maintenance.” The couple wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We get through challenges every day—that’s just the way of life on a boat,” adds Zack.
“We also have a lot of joy in our lives and appreciate everything more, from sunsets to
snorkeling to each other.”

FOLLOW THE HUMMELS AT EXPLORE LIFELONG
sailingchefigata.com LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
uofr.us/lifelonglearning

GOT THE TRAVEL BUG? FIND
AN ADVENTURE THROUGH THE WHERE IN THE WORLD
UNIVERSITY’S TRAVEL CLUB IS THE CHE FIGATA?
uofr.us/travelclub my.yb.tl/CheFigata

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