JACK A. WAPEN, 83, a former Philadelphia high school English teacher and administrator who had been living in retirement at Granite Farms Estates in Wawa, died Monday at Riddle Memorial Hospital. A graduate of West Philadelphia High School, Mr. Wapen received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He later completed extensive additional studies at the university. He served in the Navy as an instructor in Sampson, N.Y., where he found that many recruits were functionally illiterate. After his service, he began teaching, convinced that extensive remedial programs were needed in high schools. He quickly implemented his own program at Bartram High School. Based on his successes at Bartram, he developed simplified versions of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and Macbeth. Both books were used in Philadelphia high schools. Wapen served as head of the English department at Bartram and later became vice principal at Olney High School. He also worked during the summers as principal at West Philadelphia and Southern High Schools. In 1968, he received the Legion of Honor Award of the Chapel of the Four Chaplains for his service in education. He retired in 1973, after working more than four decades in the school system. Survivors: his wife of 51 years, Sienie; sons, Mitchell and Dr. Bruce; stepson, Neil Kyde, and four grandchildren. Services: Mr. Wapen donated his body to science, and there were no services. In keeping with its policy that all news reporting be timely, The Inquirer intends to publish obituaries within 48 hours of death. Mortuaries and others supplying obituary information should submit their notices promptly to The Inquirer's city desk.