Karl F. Hummel ’67

Karl died July 23, 2023 in Bristol, Vt., after a long struggle with primary progressive aphasia. He graduated from Brick Township (N.J.) High School, where he was a member of the band and Key Club. He won the School Math Award, Bausch and Lomb Award, band award, and was most valuable track team member. He was co-captain of the cross-country team. 

At Princeton, Karl majored in chemistry, ate at Dial Lodge where he was vice president, and ran varsity cross-country for two years. 

After graduation he began working for DuPont in New Jersey, but left after four years. He started a motorcycle shop in Hightstown, N.J., and began racing motocross, married Robin Hummel, had one child, and the business transformed into an automobile machine service. In 1979, he moved to Vermont to work for Digital Equipment Corp.

Karl began implementing the 1980s management techniques of Japanese business that influenced American manufacturing at Digital. When the plant closed in 1993, he opened a small consulting company. He was hired by the Central Vermont Public Service Corp. to install and implement his quality management techniques. Karl said his most satisfying career experience was when the Vermont utility was recognized by Forbes Magazine as the fourth-most trustworthy small corporation in America. 

Karl’s final years again found him seeking new challenges and reform of education. He took a large pay cut to work for the Reading Plus Corp. to train educators across the nation to assist children from poor backgrounds.

Karl is survived by a daughter from his first marriage, Kari (Suiter) Hancock; and by his second wife, Abby, and their daughters, Suzanne and Sylvia.