Gregory was born in the Bronx, New York. He is a graduate of TheGreek American Institute, W.H.Taft High School,and Hunter College of the City of New York with a degree in Mathematics/Physics.
Upon graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps and served in Germany for two and a half years.
Upon his return home, he joined the family business operated by his father, Louis, and his brother Nicholas. The business was established in 1906 by Gregory's grandfather.
That year he was a founding member of the Zoodohos Peghe Senior GOYA and became a member of the parish council, where he was eventually elected to serve as Second Vice President and President of the Greek American Institute.

He met his future wife, Catherine Nicholson, at the GOYA where she was the first Co-President.

He was later to be a founding member of the New York Retail Florist Association and has served as its Secretary since its founding.
He received a Congressional Appointment in 1995 and was a delegate from the Bronx to the White House Conference on Small Business.
He has traveled to Greece and Perista many times.
He and Catherine, a retired New York City High School Mathematics teacher have two children: Louis, a high school technology teacher, currently pursuing a master's degree at Columbia University; and Dr. Elaine Chugranis, PhD, an Education Administration specialist currently employed by a subsidiary of Estee Lauder in their education department.