Barb and her sister Susan were the only grandchildren of Eastland Disaster survivor, Borghild (nee Aanstad) Decker Carlson. Known to her family as "Nana" and to her friends as "Bobbie," Borghild lived to the age of 90. She was always bubbly and vivacious - her granddaughters loved having her babysit.

Several years after Nana had passed, Barb and Ted (together with Barb's sister Susan) founded the Eastland Disaster Historical Society (December 1998). Since the founding of the organization, they have developed a community of thousands of followers, most of whom are direct descendants of a survivor, victim, or responder. Through their collective efforts they have shared the history of the Eastland Disaster with millions of people across the country and in Europe.

In memory of Barb's grandmother, Barb and Ted are pleased to be founding members of the Legacy Circle, helping to build a legacy for all families to be remembered.