Donna Siafakas, longtime owner and operator of Peter Pan Donuts in Greenpoint, passed away at 69 years old.
Photos courtesy of D’Arienzo Funeral Home and Anna O. Grant
The woman behind one of Brooklyn’s most iconic donut counters is being remembered not only for the pastries she served, but for the community she helped build over more than three decades.
Donna Siafakas, owner and operator of Peter Pan Donuts in Greenpoint, passed away on June 30. She was 69.
For generations of Brooklynites, Peter Pan has been more than just a neighborhood bakery. Under Donna’s leadership alongside her husband, Christos, the shop became a Greenpoint institution, drawing loyal regulars and visitors from around the world with its classic donuts, warm hospitality and commitment to tradition.
Peter Pan Donuts has been a giant in the community since the 1950s, and still continues to thrive.Photo courtesy of Stefano Giovannini
The bakery closed its doors on July 8 so staff, family and customers could pay tribute to the woman who helped make the beloved shop a neighborhood landmark.
“To honor our beloved Donna,” read a handwritten sign posted on the bakery’s door beneath a drawing of a dove.
Donna and Christos owned and operated Peter Pan for decades, building its reputation around original family recipes and old-fashioned craftsmanship.
“Peter Pan at its core is a family institution as Christos and Donna’s sons as well as Donna’s sister take part in baking and serving the donuts and pastries,” their website states. “Over the years, the Peter Pan family has come to include various employees and bakers, some working with the Siafakases for over a decade, to fortify the bakery and make sure it maintains its goals of a perfect donut served with care at an affordable price.”
The announcement of her death on Instagram has garnered more than 200 comments from customers around the world sharing their experiences.
Greenpoint Council Member Lincoln Restler wrote that Donna “left an indelible mark in Greenpoint and made our community a much better place.”
Other bakeries and businesses, including Tony’s Pizzeria of Nassau Avenue, Dusty Rose Vintage and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, said that “her legacy will always live on.”