2 Members Worked at Irvine Computer Firm

Employees of a local computer company were stunned to learn that at least two people who once worked beside them were Heaven’s Gate cult members who perished in last week’s mass suicide.

The cult members had car-pooled daily to Subscriber Computing Inc., garbed in baggy pants and shirts buttoned to the neck, former employee Charles Gardner, 42, said Monday.

He said that when he saw the names of Susan Elizabeth Nora Paup, 54, and Margaret Ella Richter, 46, in the newspaper, “my jaw just dropped.”

“They just sort of wore the same kind of clothing, you know, not really stylish clothes,” Gardner said, describing the pair as strange. “They stood out, you know. And I know that in a computer company people are kind of nerdy, but these two, they were just a little bit more than what you’re used to.”

He said Richter was a computer programmer and Paup was hired as a technical writer at the company, which makes software for the cellular and wireless communications industry.

Judi Uhl, human resources director at Subscriber, confirmed that Richter and Paup were employed there but declined further comment.

Uhl and other employees referred media inquiries to the company’s San Diego public relations firm, which issued a brief statement saying that “a few” people involved in the Rancho Santa Fe tragedy had previously worked for the Irvine company.

According to the statement, the workers were “very capable and professional” and tended to keep “their private lives to themselves.”

“The company has never had any connection with their beliefs, and its relationship with them was strictly on a business level,” the statement said. “The company is deeply saddened and extends its sincerest condolences to the victims’ families.”

Gregory McQuerter, who handles public relations for Subscriber, said the company is reluctant to make further comments because Chief Executive Officer Mark Nielsen feels uncomfortable about the connection to the cult.

“He thinks it’s a very unfortunate situation,” McQuerter said.

Gardner recalled that he tried to be friendly with Paup and Richter but that the two worked hard, said little and ate together on breaks.

“I just couldn’t really get to know them; none of us could,” he said. “I worked in a one-on-one situation with Ella, and on Mondays I would ask how was her weekend. She would just say, ‘Oh, fine.’ That’s it, and that was forced. They seemed withdrawn, like they were not there all 100%.”

Gardner said Richter had good computer skills and was “an excellent programmer.” He said Paup’s abilities as a technical writer were “top gun.”

Subscriber Computing was highlighted in an unrelated story in this week’s Orange County Business Journal. The publication said that the company, which now has 150 employees, was founded in 1975 to develop management software for paging systems.

It since has expanded to also develop billing, information management and fraud-control software for the paging, cellular and wireless communications industry. The company’s customers include AirTouch Communications Inc. and Motorola Inc.

In the past year, the company has recruited several new executives and moved from Laguna Hills to larger headquarters near John Wayne Airport. Meanwhile, CEO Nielsen has publicly stated that he seeks to take the company public.