Daughter donates grief care packages to PBMC a year after dad Peter Sultan’s tragic death

Grief is a lifelong journey, and for Elizabeth Sultan, the first anniversary of her father’s death has been a reminder of her resilience as she turns her pain into purpose.

That resilience was on display Tuesday at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead, where the hospital hosted a special dedication for Peter’s Packages, an organization the rising Westhampton Beach High School senior launched to support grieving children and young adults in honor of her father.

Just a day after the first anniversary of Dr. Peter Sultan’s sudden death, Elizabeth donated 15 canvas bags filled with comfort items to the hospital’s palliative care team, hoping to bring healing and connection to children facing a similar path of loss.

Dr. Sultan, a beloved orthopedic surgeon at PBMC for more than 20 years, died suddenly on July 13, 2025, after participating in the Jamesport Triathlon. He was 54.

“This is a very full circle moment for me, as this hospital allowed my dad to make a difference in the lives of so many individuals,” Elizabeth said before a room filled with family, friends and colleagues. “Now I get to return to his place of work and continue to make an impact and carry on his legacy in my own way.”

Dr. Sultan helped patients regain mobility and live with less pain during his two decades at PBMC. To his co-workers, his fun-loving spirit made work enjoyable. Known for his passion for the piano, he was often seen tickling the ivories in the hospital’s lobby between surgeries.

The outpouring of grief across the East End made it clear that Dr. Sultan’s connection with the community extended far beyond the operating room. Whether through a shared devotion to family or a love of music, his commitment to those around him left a lasting mark.

“His legacy of healing continues to resonate through the halls of this hospital,” said Christine Gallo, PBMC palliative medicine social work supervisor. “Just as Dr. Sultan healed so many, Elizabeth is now healing hearts, helping young lives find strength and comfort amidst their pain, and she is a powerful reminder to all of us, truly, that where hope is planted, love grows.”

Outside the hospital, Elizabeth affectionately knew her father as “Jeter” — a nickname that shared a name with Yankees great Derek Jeter but had “no relationship to baseball at all,” she said.

The moniker arose during a family trip to the Strawberry Festival in Mattituck, when Elizabeth and her brother were afraid to ride the kiddie coaster. Dr. Sultan knelt beside them and pretended to be another child.

Photos by Ana Borruto

“‘Oh, what if I was your age and my name is Jeter? Would you ride with me?’” Elizabeth recalled him saying. “From that day on, it just stuck…and we went on the coaster.”

At work, her father often bragged about Elizabeth and her brother, William, showing his children off in photos on his phone. Any chance he had, he was at his daughter’s sports games. 

Elizabeth recalled her dad driving her and her friends to the mall, Crumbl Cookies or Chick-fil-A farther west. He never minded — all he wanted was to see his children have fun, she said.

“He was definitely young at heart,” she told the Riverhead News-Review. “He was just ready to do anything for us.”

When he died, Elizabeth said she was suddenly “left with a hole” in her heart “that could never truly be filled.” A year later, she told the crowd at PBMC that she still struggles to enjoy running because of the circumstances surrounding his death.

“Every step has carried a new weight since he passed — every track meet and soccer game I’ve participated in since July 13, 2025 has been tainted by feelings of regret, fear and anger,” Elizabeth said. “Even though running has become a reminder of what I lost, it is also a constant reminder for me to live life to the fullest, be the best version of myself, and most importantly, never take a moment for granted…he is with me in every step, every goal and even every hurdle.” 

Her experience inspired her to create Peter’s Packages last October to support other young people facing similar circumstances.

Elizabeth held the organization’s first event at her high school varsity soccer game that fall. She and her team sold branded T-shirts and cookies and collected donations through an Amazon Wish List featuring board games, water bottles, sympathy candles, memory journals, tea and arts-and-crafts supplies.

PBMC supported the effort with a $500 donation. After the fundraiser, word about Peter’s Packages spread quickly.Mixology Clothing Company collaborated with Elizabeth on another event, and she earned a first-place $3,000 prize in the 2025 Long Island Sports Heroes Video Challenge for a video showcasing her work.

By early August, Peter’s Packages expects to have donated 50 bags valued at more than $100 each.

“I can just feel the amount of love in this room and grief, and yet looking forward with hope around what we can all do as we move forward,” said PBMC president Amy Loeb, who presented Elizabeth with a plaque to thank her for her generous gifts. “This is inspiring for us all.” 

Beaming with pride for her daughter, Cara Sultan said that although the past year has been difficult, assembling the care packages has helped the family remain focused on something positive.

“She just does it, and she doesn’t think twice about it,” her mother said. “I’m always so proud of what she’s doing, she blows me away with her compassion, her empathy, her strength and her love.” 

In each bag, Elizabeth includes her phone number and a personalized letter sharing her story and reminding recipients that they are not alone. Many have contacted her personally to offer their thanks, and she said those connections have also helped her.

Elizabeth encouraged others coping with loss to allow themselves to feel it while also using it as motivation to become the best version of themselves and make an impact, big or small.

“Every day is definitely a new challenge, and it’s definitely okay to let yourself feel the grief, and it’s also okay to let yourself feel the joy,” Elizabeth said. “To try to find a balance and carry that person with you in everything you do.” 

Information about Peter’s Packages and its Amazon Wish List is available on Instagram at @peters.packages.