A Georgia father is urging parents to have uncomfortable conversations with their children — before it’s too late.
Ben Pargman’s world was shattered when his son, Ari “Manny” Pargman, died by suicide on December 4, 2024.
Just four months earlier, the 18-year-old had begun his freshman year at the University of Colorado Boulder. To everyone around him, Manny was thriving — full of life, laughter, and love.
Now, Ben is speaking publicly about the quiet, subtle signals he missed, hoping that by sharing his family’s heartbreak, he might help save another.
“Just have the conversation”
“I remember this Thanksgiving, just a couple months ago. There was a kids’ table and I walked out and Manny had everyone doubled over laughing. I don’t know what the joke was but he was just a fun, fun kid,” Ben recalled to Atlanta News First.
It was one of the last times he saw his son alive.
From the outside, Manny seemed to have it all: a joyful childhood in Sandy Springs, Georgia, filled with family, music, sports, and summer camp. In college, he joined the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and quickly became “a cornerstone of our brotherhood,” the organization wrote in tribute.
But behind the smile, Manny was suffering — and his family had no idea.
“He was dealing with some pretty troubling stuff — and one of his ways of managing that was to be happy and excited and cover it up,” Ben said.
Now, in hindsight, Ben can identify the signs he missed. They were quiet but persistent: his son had started sleeping more, had lost weight, and began skipping plans with friends.
“I was naive. I was ignorant. I didn’t know. And I missed it. And I don’t think it had to go that way, if I knew more than I knew," the grieving father said.
Breaking the silence
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among American teens and young adults.
Teenage boys and young men represent 80 percent of those deaths, according to the CDC. Manny was the fourth University of Colorado Boulder student to take their own life in 2024.
Experts insist that awareness and open discussion are critical.
“There’s been a misnomer. That talking about suicide will increase the likelihood that someone will commit suicide and that’s just not correct,” said Kevin Tanner, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. “It’s up to us to talk to our children about suicide.”
Ben agrees—and says it's time to push past the awkwardness.
“Just have the conversation. Just start it, trip over yourself and it’s ok. It’s ok to say, ‘Hey, I’m just checking in with you. Have you had thoughts of committing suicide?’”
He continued: “And yeah, that’s awkward and difficult. But I promise you, it’s less awkward and difficult than going to your child’s funeral.”
Manny’s legacy
Following his death, Manny’s family launched a foundation called Manny’s Band — a tribute to his passion for music and a mission to keep others from suffering in silence.
“Manny’s music, his love, and his joy live on through the thousands of friends, family, and community members who knew him,” the foundation’s site reads. “By joining together in Manny’s Band, we work so the songs and contributions of others are not silenced prematurely by suicide.”
Even as a child, Manny stunned his instructors by perfectly playing back drumbeats after hearing them just once. Later, he became a DJ — a pursuit that “brought him immense joy as he spun the perfect tracks at parties and anywhere he could power up his turntable,” his obituary reads.
“Manny’s love for life was boundless—whether hiking outdoors, cheering on the Braves, or bringing people together through music. His legacy will forever inspire us to live with the same passion, kindness, and joy he shared with the world,” wrote his fraternity brothers.
Our thoughts go out to Manny's family and loved ones at this time.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.