STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Following the devastation of Hurricane Maria, Sean Collins went towards the destruction to help restore power to Puerto Rico, and kept returning to visit friends he had made.

He "loved adventure and loved life," his sister, Tara Collins, said. "He could go to any place and talk to anyone and have a good time."

Sean Collins was scheduled to board a United Airlines flight to New York to Feb. 19, according to Elvocero.com.

He never got on the flight. He was discovered dead inside his car on Feb. 20.

Tara Collins said her brother "loved to travel," and that she was supposed to go to Ireland with him in April to visit family there.

He also had visited Australia and hoped to go back again, soon, she said.

Collins' mother, Noreen, has lived on Staten Island for 38 years, and Sean Collins attended St. Teresa School, Monsignor Farrell High School and St. John's University, Staten Island, where he graduated with a degree in accounting, according to his sister.

"Our dad died when we were young," his sister said, "So, my mom, my brother and I were very close. He was a great person. He went to have dinner with my mom 2-3 days every week; he was just a great person."

Sean Collins went to Puerto Rico initially to help restore power to the island, working as a linesman and foreman for Northline Utilities, along with Con Edison with IBEW Local 3, following Hurricane Maria. According to his sister, he was "honored" to do work in Puerto Rico and was eager to return there once he got home.

"He said that the people there were so nice and grateful," she said.

Sean Collins was active, his sister said, and worked out often to stay in shape. "He used to do boxing, and recently picked up golfing, though he definitely wasn't any good at it," she joked. "He was just such a happy person. It is just awful - I don't know how we're going to go on without him."

When the family went to Puerto Rico, they hit some "roadblocks," Tara Collins stated; however, Rep. Dan Donovan called the family personally and was able to connect them with Deputy Secretary of State Eduardo Arosemena-Munoz, who has been instrumental in helping the family through the process of bringing her brother home.

The help from Donovan's office, she said, has been a part of the outpouring of support she and her family have received.

"Given this awful situation, we have received a lot of help," she said. "We don't feel alone down here."

According to the family, Sean Collins had no known drug problems, and only suffers mild asthma issues.

The family, currently in Puerto Rico, is awaiting the official autopsy results.