HomeHistory of TBB

History of Twins by the Bay

Susie Robertson's Vision

Twins by the Bay, often referred to as TBB, was founded in 1998 by Susie Robertson. Susie saw an unmet need for support of parents of multiples in the Oakland and Berkeley areas of the East Bay. As a mother of twins and an identical twin herself, Susie wanted advice, commiseration and a network of people who could support one another through the challenges of raising multiples.

None of this existed at the time, so she opted to set up a non-profit organization that would serve the needs of parents who received—just as Susie had—the astounding news, "Congratulations, you're having twins!"

Susie worked tirelessly as president and founder of TBB to create a very special organization—one which would bring people together on a volunteer basis to serve one another and to share the joy, fun and stress of parenting multiples.

Twins by the Bay has grown over the years into a strong, supportive organization (over 2500 members since its inception) that offers great benefits—including the New and Expectant Parent Support Group meetings, the Loaner Library program, and the online listservs. None of this would have been possible without the contribution of Susie and other volunteer board members and, of course, each wonderful member family.

In early 2006, Susie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Susie continued to champion Twins by the Bay while raising her family and battling this illness. On May 5, 2007, the club lost an irreplacable member. We would like to dedicate this site and the spirit of community it reflects to the indomitable spirit of Susie Robertson.

Susie Robertson, Founder of Twins by the Bay, and her family

History of Club Activities

When the Twins by the Bay started as a website and Yahoo!Group, club activities were focused on meeting up at playgrounds to meet other families with multiples. Over time as membership grew, the club added on Sunshine Club, Guest Speakers, Consignment Sale, Philanthropy and more. Social workers in the Bay Area would contact the TBB founder Susie when they had families in need of clothing or equipment. Susie would then reach out to the TBB members and ask for donations of these items. The TBB members were such a great community and so generous gifting clothes, strollers, etc. Susie and her twin sister Kathryn would collect the donations and give to the social workers who would pass on to the families in need.

During the COVID pandemic, the club suffered a loss of membership as in-person activities ceased for over 1.5 years. Zoom allowed for virtual connection in the form of New & Expectant groups, book club, and guest speakers - including a therapist who held open office hours to support families during the extremely challenging time. Starting in late November 2021, Twins by the Bay was finally able to start holding in-person events again and rebuild its membership and support.

As Twins by the Bay looks forward to celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2028, the member-run club is adapting the activities and support to meet current members' needs. If you're a current club member, look under the "Get More Involved" menu to explore your options. If you're not yet a member, we welcome you to join us today!