Remembering Raisin, the Goat That Led Two Lives

A pet goat named Raisin, who lived in Chilmark a town on Martha's Vineyard died of pneumonia last Wednesday.

Raisin was a local and national celebrity, admired both by his owner, Tom Ashe, and the Island community, and a much wider audience, after he was featured on the Late Show with David Letterman. Seth Meyers, who is married to Mr. Ashe’s daughter, Alexi, gushed about the pet goat when he was Letterman’s guest in 2009 and again in 2010. “Working in show business I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many goats. But none stole my heart quite like Raisin,” Mr. Meyers told the Gazette this week.

Raisin singing along with his one and only: owner Tom Ashe. — Courtesy Ashe family 

As a kid, Raisin faced an uncertain future. Chris Fischer, who owns and operates Beetlebung Farm in Chilmark, had been given Raisin by his cousin Emily Fischer of Flat Point Farm. Mr. Fischer attached Raisin to his property, hoping that the animal would mow his land. A friend of Mr. Fischer’s suspected he planned to slaughter and cook Raisin, and stole the goat. Mr. Fischer recovered the goat from a home on North Road with Mr. Ashe’s son Tolya, a private chef, and returned him to the Ashe family home.

Mr. Ashe insisted that they adopt the goat as a member of the family. “He fell in love with it and why wouldn’t you?” Mr. Meyers said on Letterman. Mr. Letterman flashed a picture of Mr. Ashe and Raisin making eyes at each other on a livingroom couch, and another of the pair in the front row of a car.

Raisin’s summers were as active and fun-filled as any Vineyard kid’s, making him a familiar face to many up-Islanders. Mr. Ashe and Raisin were frequently seen at Lucy Vincent and Philbin beaches, where he bypassed the “No Dogs” policy. Raisin was also a regular at the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market, where his charm and friendliness endeared him to the local community. He was as much a fixture on the porch of the Chilmark Store as any human, and if the Ashe family went boating, Raisin would go too. “He was such a big part of summer,” Mr. Ashe’s daughter Ariel told the Gazette.  lick here to continue reading.