John Gregory

John Gregory of Fairport, NY passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on June 6, 2024, surrounded by family. He was predeceased by Lillian Gregory, his loving wife of 61 years, his brother George Gregory of Buffalo, NY and his parents Thomas and Angelice Gregory of Brooklyn, NY. John is survived by his sister Despina Gregory of Brooklyn, NY; and four children Lauren (Bill) Houston of Fairport, NY; Charlie (Angela) Gregory of Malta, NY; Glenn Gregory of Rochester, NY; and Paul (Molly Michelmore) Gregory of Lexington, VA. He was adored by his granddaughters Ashley (Ethan) Payne, Paige (Trevor) Beck, as well as his grandsons Diarmuid, Ben, Aidan, Sammy and John Gregory and Jamie Michelmore. He was also beloved by four great grandchildren Audrey and Evan Payne, and Theodore and Andrea Beck.

John was born in Binghamton, NY, the second son of Thomas, who emigrated from Greece, and of Thomas’ wife, Angelice, whose parents emigrated from Greece. Thomas, an immigrant starting over in a new country and Angelice, a daughter of immigrants, learned the value of hard work and perseverance. They taught John, his brother George, and his sister Despina the same values. Years later John instilled those qualities in his own children. Thomas and Angelice moved their two boys to Brooklyn, NY a few months after John was born; it was where he grew up and where his sister Despina was born and still lives. Several years after the family’s move to Brooklyn, John met his wife Lillian at an ice cream parlor in Brooklyn, NY. They married in 1957, eventually left Brooklyn and spent 51 years of their married life in Pittsford, NY raising four children.

By trade, John was a general construction contractor. He eventually started up his own business and ran it from a home office so he could be more available to his family when needed. Prior to self-employment, John oversaw the construction of the Riverton planned community in Henrietta and the construction of Eastview Mall in Victor for Wilmorite. He was known for his dry humor, his charm, his gentle nature, his love of golfing at Clifton Springs CC, and his talent for photography. He also enjoyed trips to Europe with his wife and summer family vacations at Long Beach Island, NJ. During the last year of his life, John was a resident of Fairport Baptist Home.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 am on June 14 at the Fairport Baptist Home Chapel, 4646 Nine Mile Point Road, Fairport, NY 14450. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or www.heart.org or to American Parkinson Disease Association, P.O. Box 61420, Staten Island, NY 10306 or www.apdaparkinson.org.