Matt:
Your father, Homer, and I collaborated on a number of films in the 60’s, some produced for himself ("The Story”, “Study in Wet”, etc), some ("Surf", for example) for Jantzen, and several for some his other clients.
I was fortunate to be Homer’s friend and professional colleague: film editor, from 1959, when we worked together for the first time on “Timberline”, until I left Portland in 1968 to study Design at the Rhode Island School of Design. We communicated some during those years but, as it unfortunately happens all too often - even with the best of friends - we lost contact, due mostly to my negligence.
I was deeply saddened to hear of Homer’s death, for not only did I value and enjoyed our professional relationship and personal friendship, but I respected him immensely, and truly appreciated the highly creative man that he was. I learned a great deal from Homer during our years working together, most of which I subsequently taught my film making students at the University of Michigan from ‘73 through ‘96: Since my “retirement” from the UofM, I’ve taught Industrial Design and have practiced Architecture here in Puerto Rico, my homeland. Unfortunately, I haven’t worked actively in Film or Video since then.
In any event, I’ve followed your meteoric rise to fame since your first offering hit the screen, having seen and appreciated many of your subsequent productions. My sincerest congratulations to you for such a success, and my best wishes, always, for an even brighter future. Your genes show!
Alfredo Montalvo
Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, Futurama and 
