terry robbins was raised in queens county, new york by his mother olga, a hunter college alumna, and his father sam, who worked at a garment factory. when robbins was six years old, his mother began to suffer from breast cancer, which eventually caused her death three years later. as olga's health deteriorated, robbins' father hired a domestic worker, nicknamed "auntie annie" by robbins and his sister. "auntie annie" remained in the robbins employ for two years until olga died.