Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- It’s a reality that no parent ever wants to face, but a father is speaking out about his son’s suicide.
Joshua Pappalardo was just 17 years old when he took his own life. Ever since, his father Ron has made it his mission to talk to students about suicide.
NewsChannel 9 spoke to Ron Thursday at Onondaga Community College, where he said being open and honest, allows the students to connect with his story.
"I try to say, 'No, I'm just here for you, I'm just a dad, and whatever you want to talk about, whatever you want to bring up man, I'm here to do it,’ and you start to see, you know like little birds they start opening their mouths and it gets really awesome when that kind of honest and sincere sharing starts happening. It's just awesome,” Ron said.
Pappalardo has written a book about his experience entitled “Reconciled by the Light, The After Death Letters from a Teen Suicide, A True Story.”
