Ornella Zaid

General

• Partner: Rachael Woorsley (deceased)
  • Did not raise children together, but Zaid considered Rachael Woorsley's adult sons, Hal Woorsley Will Bennington, as her own
• Former PCAG champion, philanthropist, and infamous puzzle designer
• Died 01 Feb 2006 at the age of 99

• In 215, won the Perplex City Academy Games
• Used her winnings to establish the prestigious Zaid Prize in cryptography with her prize winnings, in honour of her grandfather, Fynn Zaid, himself a notable cryptographer

• In her youth, she worked as a gardener at the Mimasan Maze, which helped develop her understanding of spatial puzzles
• Worked her way up the ranks at the Maze, eventually becoming a crucial part of the institution's design team
• During this time, she mentored the Maze's current director, Garron Ortega
• At her departure, she had been senior designer at the Maze for nearly thirty years

• In 214, she entered the PCAG
• Won the 215 championship
• She only played in the one season, and never played again

• In 218, she began ad hoc work on puzzle designs, while still working at Mimasan Maze
• Eventually this took over more of her time and energies
• Took over as lead puzzle scribe in 240

• In 252, she penned her memoir, "Finding the Way."

References

• Perplex City Sentinel
  • article, 02-FEB-06 "Former Champion Zaid Passes Away at 99" (link)